Dylan Roscover Essay test #2 05 10 2006 The classic clique, "nobody's perfect," just about sums up Orwell's stance on humanity and his argument toward Gandhi. Though Orwell agrees with this political and spiritual leader's logic, he certainly does not approve of it having any substance in the real world. Gandhi's values are, he claims, inhuman, and that, in his own position on the matter, to be human is to be imperfect. Gandhi complains that friendships can go bad and turn disasterous. Instead of criticizing this fact directly, Orwell does something particularily unusual yet effective: he agrees with Gandhi. This not only makes Orwell sound brighter, but more fair and objective. He proceeds accordingly with Gandhi's belief that, to be a saint, one must love everyone equally. Orwell, however, though in agreement, argues that people simply aren't that way. To an average person, one has to discriminate in order to experience true, real love. If it doesn't mean love to us than what does it matter if it's love at all. Orwell uses examples from Gandhi's autobiography to prove the inhuman values he lived by. On not one, not two, but three separate occasions (at least) Gandhi was honestly willing for his own family to die instead of eating animal food prescribed by the doctor. This alone proves that, though perhaps noble, Gandhi is a little insane. We all know that life is more valuable than a choice of food. This is why Orwell uses such an athome case: literally any person, any human, can relate. Orwell also mentions, wittingly, that Gandhi was pressed not to actually abide by this rule of his, and at least allow people the choice of whether to live or not. This not only increases support for Orwell's position, but synchronisly weakens Gandhi's. The very essense, Orwell argues, of humanity, is imperfection. We may do stupid things, sure, but sometimes it is downright necessary to overide certain values in order to achieve a greater good. Orwell develops this position using ample examples such as friendly intercourse. He finishes with an interesting comparision: sainthood must be avoided just as alcohol and tobacco must be avoided by the saint themself: two different levels of being; seperate in value yet similar in structure.