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Overcoming Adversity Examples

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The handling of adversity dichotomy is also displayed by historical figures. One example of overcoming adversity is found in King George VI of the United Kingdom. King George was the king who was never meant to be king, that destiny always belonging to his eldest brother, Prince Edward. When Edward abdicated the throne, King George was thrust into the spotlight, a place he was never comfortable in. King George struggled with stuttering, hating to be in public eye for he could never get his words right. By the persuading of his wife, King George agrees to see a speech therapist. The therapy sessions goes poorly, as King George is convinced he is failing and will be unable to make any improvement. King George however, continues to work at it. …show more content…
When it was found that the Democratic National Committee headquarters had been broken into, the world was determined to find out who was responsible. Attention was turned to President Richard Nixon to determine what had happened. Nixon initially denied the allegations, claiming that he knew nothing of the scandal. As the trials continued it seemed that Nixon would be able to escape the allegations. He fired people involved, and did all he could to keep himself as far away from the scandals. However, eventually new tapse were found and released, tapes that proved Nixon’s guilt. Nixon was trapped, he could do nothing. His crimes having caught up to him, Nixon was forced to admit his involvement to the public. The adversity of knowing that he would be impeached let Nixon to resign from office, the only president to do so, forever labeling himself as a coward. The adversity had caught up to Nixon, showing how though adversity can elicit talents and bring out the good, it can also extract the evil.

Adversity brings out dormant traits from our unconscious mind. What it brings out, the good or the evil, depends on the situation and how it handled. Through the foils of Jean Valjean and Javert, and the examples of King George VI and President Nixon, it is shown how though adversity “elicits talents” as Horace said, it can also bring the nefarious nature within

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