Literary Analysis Essay

Having a sense of personal responsibility in one’s life is taking control of your life’s decisions

while accepting and living by society’s set standards of individual behavior. But when these standards

are not met someone with personal responsibility does not seek others to blame. Outsiders or

influences may have an effect, however it is still the responsibility of the individual person to achieve

their own goals. Using the literary texts Sir Thomas More, Utopia, and Christopher Marlowe, The

Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the idea of personal

responsibility is displayed in different way in response to the challenges of life. The characters in these

texts are defined by their morals or ethical qualities, which gives them advantages and in some cases

disadvantages when faced with the challenges and circumstances of life. In Utopia, we are able to see

how in an imaginary world where personal responsibility is imposed and governed by others to depict a

“perfect” society there becomes a shift from personal to social responsibility. In The Tragical History of

Doctor Faustus, Faustus’s is unable to accurately show a sense of personal responsibility because of his

inability to hold himself accountable or responsible for anything, blaming outsiders or influences to

dictate his actions. We learn that one must take control of their life and take a sense of personal

responsibility for the way that their life turns out. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, we see the most

accurate view of personal responsibility from Sir Gawain from his willingness to accept responsibility and

dictate his actions and take blame for any and all of his faults. When you truly learn to be responsible for

yourself you learn it is in your best interest to be a good steward to others and the world around you.

In Sir Thomas More’s work of fiction and social political satire, Utopia, a “perfect” society is

created on the mere concept of imposing personal responsibility on its citizens. The concept goes

beyond thinking and acting as individuals and each individual is part of a larger community. In a world

such as Utopia, “Agriculture is the one occupation at which everyone works, men and women alike, with

no exceptions” (More, p.75). Through these expectations and the presence of others, the people of
Utopia behave in certain way given their particular situation. In Utopia, everyone must contribute in

order for the society to progress as a whole. “Not many people in each city are excused to work,” (More,

p. 85), It is hard to determine someone’s personal responsibility when you are not the one choosing

your actions. “He pursues whichever he likes better, unless the city needs one more than the other.”

(More, p. 75). The people are obligated to act in a way that will benefit the society as a whole. Here

draws the line between personal responsibility and social responsibility. “These and the like attitudes

the Utopians have picked up partly from their upbringings,” (More, p. 85) Children are raised on social

responsibility rather than personal responsibility. Personal responsibility and accountability occur when

an individual freely takes responsibility for their own actions, not when someone imposes responsibility

up on them. Although, their philosophy, “When an individual obeys the dictates of reason in choosing

one thing and avoiding another, he is followed by nature.”(More, p. 87) shows how Utopians do have a

sense of personal responsibility that derives from the good of nature. “Because, they live in full view of

all,” Utopian’s personal responsibility is govern by their neighbors. With the idea that outsiders or

influencers can change our behavior and can make life choices challenging and difficult, in a society like

Utopia these challenges seem less challenging when everyone is acting in a certain manner. The shift

from personal to social responsibility is one that is evident.

In The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Doctor Faustus is faced with many outside factors and

influencers that challenge him to make the right decision. One can argue as to where the responsibility

lies concerning Faustus’ fate because of the presence of other forces who may have influenced his

decision. However the responsibility for his choice remains his and his alone. The famous, Good and Evil

Angel are two influencers that reveal how even with the help of the Good Angel, “O Faustus, lay that

damned book aside, and gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul,” (Marlowe, p. 683) and the temptation of

the Evil Angel, “Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art, Wherein all nature’s treasury is contained”

(Marlowe, p. 683) Faustus is influenced by many, some bad and some good, leaving him personally
responsible for his decision. Faustus’s inability to accept personal responsibility and see how his decision

have a direct impact on his life’s events and lead him to make one bad decision after another. Faustus

begins to curse his life after realizing he is the only one responsible, and yet still blames Mephostphilis,

“When I behold the heavens, then I repent, and curse thee, wicked Mephostophilis, because thou hast

deprived me of those joys.” (Marlowe, p. 695) During his last grieving moments before being dragged to

hell Faustus himself proves that he by choice determines his own fate “curse thy self,” but then goes on

to blame the Devil, “curse Lucifer that hath deprived thee of the joys of heaven.” By expecting personal

responsibility out of others and allowing people to fail you are helping them learn to succeed on their

own. There are some who don’t get it, and never will.

Sir Gawain’s discovery of who he is and what his responsibilities are as a knight, in the story of

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, shows him to be the most accurate view of personal responsibility.

Gawain says to King Arthur, in his defense, “If my proposal is improper, let no other person stand

blame.”(Norton, p.211) Gawain shows a sense of personal responsibility by his willingness to live by

society’s standards of a knight. Sir Gawain kindly rejects The Lady, “If refused, I’d be at fault for offering

in the first place.”(Norton, p. 235) and in doing so he is being personally responsible for understanding

how his actions impact others around him. Bound to face his fate, Sir Gawain confesses the Green

Knight, “A curse upon cowardice and covetousness.” (Norton, p.252), “Such terrible mistakes, and I shall

bear the blame.” (Norton, p.253) Gawain accepts responsibility in his confession to the Green Knight for

the fact that he possessed many faults when interacting with Bertilak and his wife, and promises to be

accountable in the future. And yet one more time Sir Gawain confesses to the people of Camelot,

“Cowardice and covetousness I came to commit,” (Norton, p. 255). Being humble shows others that you

are willing to learn and continue to improve yourself. Although he is viewed as the most chivalrous

knight in Camelot, he is still the first one to admit when he is wrong and is willing to take full
responsibility when he is not acting in the way a knight should act. Sir Gawain’s ability to own up to his

weaknesses proves him to be the most accurate view of personal responsibility.