Defining Power and Resistance

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Power and Resistance
Power is a crucial aspect of common society, heavily accompanied by different risks, consequences, and resistance. Power and resistance go hand in hand and vary depending on the contexts and texts. The concept of resistance must be understood since it determines the leader's ability to engage the followers comfortably. Poor implementation of power leads to increase resistance from the followers. Power and resistance are inherently distinct since resistance remains to be obscure to power and its implementation process. Power depends on the ability to mobilize the existing resources purposefully to achieve specific goals and objectives. It must be exercised with specific regulations and guidance. While exercising power, it is also necessary to consider the social resources and the consequences regardless of how much authority one may have (Behn 1). Additionally, power and resistance rely on specific relations. Power relations is the acceptance of the followers to comply with different authorities and the existing actions provided by the leader. Power relations can also be drawn as paradoxical since the social actors cannot fully moderate its effects whatsoever. In other words, the power consequences and risks do not preclude resistance and need to be separated and understood explicitly.
Additionally, it does not mean that whenever the power is accepted, then the resistance is precluded. There are some instances upon which the followers consider specific consequences, and thus they can embrace power. Pullman notes that there are some specific cases of practical or pragmatic acceptance of power in which individuals are authoritatively forced to uphold power beyond their desires or control (2). In this case, power may be embraced in terms of slavery, as considered in the case of Behn. Therefore, power can be identified as either intentional or frictional depending on how the leaders address it. Resistance can also take different forms depending on how power is presented. In many instances, many people confuse resistance with conflict. It does not necessarily mean that every form of resistance is accompanied by conflict; however, conflict may be identified as a symbol of resistance. Nevertheless, conflict and resistance may be related since they both limits power execution. Therefore, ineffective power leads to resistance in the form of conflict, which is detrimental. The paper addresses how power and resistance are represented in the texts Behn, Oroonoko, ed. Joanna Lipking (New York and London: Norton, 1997 and Pullman, P. Northern Lights, Northern Lights (London: Scholastic Press, 1995).
Power and Resistance in Oroonoko by Behn
In Oroonoko, power and resistance are uniquely represented and can only be understood by a comprehensive power analysis. Behn ought to define power as a force. Regardless of others as a significant definition of power, Behn relates power to forceful aspects oriented towards achieving a certain plan (5). Critically focusing on Oroonoko, power is extremely exercised and its consequences felt by the followers. It exposes many people to slavery, thus noted as royal slaves. It must be noted that any power linked to slavery lead...