Importance of Morality
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Importance of Morality
Submerged deep in the plot of The Emperors Club lies valuable lessons which should be applied to every persons makeup. As presented by Tennessee Williams writing in The Glass Menagerie, “Adventure and change were imminent in this year. They were waiting around the corner for all these kids” (1.5.10-13). William Hundert, a renowned educator at St. Benedicts School for Boys, would surely to teach his students to succeed and grant them the ability to thrive in the world. He can be held responsible for their high successes and positions in their future careers. His tremendous tale as a teacher, and the lessons and principles he assimilates into the brilliant minds of his students are exposed in the inspirational film, which some could swear to be based on a true story. As a history instructor, he dwells on the preceding tracks of others, even those pasts which are not mentioned in any history textbook. Before a single lesson is taught, he has Martin Blythe read, “I am Shutruk Nahunte, King of Anshand and Sussa, Sovereign of the land of Elam. I destroyed Sippar, took the stele of Niran-Sin, and brought it back to Elam, where I erected it as an offering to my god. Shutruk Nahunte – 1158 B.C.,” off the plaque which traditionally hangs above his doorway (The Emperors Club). This king is unmentioned in all other classrooms and is forgotten by essentially the entire world because he failed to make a lasting difference in the world. Mr. Hundert says himself, “Great ambition and
conquest without contribution is without significance.” Everyone, not only the characters in the movie, but all members of each society, has an obligation to use what they learn from their own
mistakes and the faults of others in order to be eternally remembered, and to also change the world for the better. It is after only a short period of time before the students grasp the importance of knowledge about the past. As Deepak Mehta says, “Not to know what happened before you were born is to be forever a child.”
This film not only describes the significance of past events, but can be directly related to issues in the present. Modern societies, particularly those citizens in the younger generation, are not especially concerned with morality or decency. Gradually the world has become a place infested with selfish and uncaring leeches and parasites. Yet the noble William Hundert is determined to reverse the effects of this contaminated planet by encouraging his students to treat each other justly. It could almost be considered an innuendo hinting toward his probably-Christian faith when he tells his apprentices, “It is not living that is important, but living rightly.” Mr. Hundert also makes it a point to encourage his students to achieve their goals by the means of hard work. He believes in their future successes, no matter the case or student. When Sedgewick Bell, the student with, in all probability, the most horrible behavior in the class, first arrives and begins to struggle with his grades and focus, Mr. Hundert personally walks to his room and lends Sedgewick his old high school textbook. Though Bells success is not prominent, Hundert tells him, “Im lending you this book because I believe