book

Cognitive Dissonance in Literature

21 Pages 893 Words 1557 Views

Cognitive dissonance is described as using a favorable stimulus to prompt acceptance of an unfavorable one, or producing an unfavorable association (Nichol, Mark). In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth uses cognitive dissonance in her favour. Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into killing Duncan, so that she will have more power, “Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage” (I.vii.39-45). Lady Macbeth realizes that if Macbeth were to kill Duncan and his sons, that Macbeth would be acknowledged as king. Since Lady Macbeth is so blinded by the thought of power, she manipulates Macbeth into killing the king. She knows that if she uses a positive stimulus; such as the kings crown, to mask an unfavorable one; killing the king, Macbeth will comply and carry out the act. Since Macbeth is also power driven, he agrees to kill the king, so that they'll have power over Scotland (Shakespeare, William). In Bonnie & Clyde, Bonnie also uses cognitive dissonance in her favor. She uses sex and sex appeal as a positive stimulus, to make sure that Clyde continues to rob banks; which is an unfavorable stimulus. Bonnie knows that if she does not continue to keep Clyde pleased, he will eventually stop robbing banks, therefore not allowing her to have the things that she likes. She knows that manipulating Clyde into continuing their unrighteous acts is wrong, but because she wants to be known worldwide she will do anything in her power to keep Clyde by her side ( ). “Propaganda does not have to seek objectively for the truth so far as it favors an opponent but exclusively has to serve our interests” ( ). Hitler used manipulation not for the good of Germany, but rather for himself. He used cognitive dissonance to trick Germans into doing

Read Full Essay