To Fall On One’s Sword

An opinion piece drawing inferences to contemporary Shakespearean literature in the ethical and integrity issues facing society today.

Written by: Karen Austria

"I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. Give me my armor." - Macbeth, Shakespeare

Participating in debating competitions in high school and university helped shape my views on critical thinking and drawing inferences in modern society by teaching me the importance of understanding and analysing multiple perspectives.

Through studying literature greats such as Shakespeare, I learned to appreciate the nuances and complexities of different arguments and to consider multiple interpretations of a text.

This experience helped me to develop the ability to critically evaluate information and make informed decisions, skills that are crucial for navigating the complex issues that we face in modern society.

Additionally, the practice of constructing and defending my own arguments in debates helped me to hone my ability to infer meaning and draw connections between seemingly disparate ideas.

Overall, my debating experiences in high school and university, along with my study of literature, have equipped me with valuable tools for understanding and engaging with the world around me.

So, let’s explore literature …

The phrase "fall on one's sword" as a practice of honorable suicide by falling on one's own sword, is not referenced specifically in any of Shakespeare's plays.

It is however a concept that is present in some of his plays where characters take responsibility for their actions and face the consequences, whether it be through death or by accepting the public shame.

For example, in Julius Caesar, Brutus, one of the conspirators who helped to assassinate Julius Caesar, gives a speech where he explains his actions and takes responsibility for them. He says "There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition" showing that he is willing to take the consequences of his actions.

In Macbeth, Macbeth is consumed by ambition and greed, and ultimately takes the throne through murder, but as his guilt and paranoia grow, he becomes increasingly tyrannical and violent, leading to a downward spiral of tragedy for himself and those around him.

In Hamlet, after accidentally killing Polonius, Laertes returns to Denmark to take revenge on Hamlet for his father's death, and in their final confrontation, Laertes accepts his own responsibility for the violence and death that has occurred, and both he and Hamlet die as a result.

While the phrase itself is not used in Shakespeare's plays, the concept of taking responsibility for one's actions and facing the consequences is present in many of his works.

How can you relate it to modern day?

In modern day, the phrase "fall on one's sword" is often used as a metaphor to describe someone taking personal responsibility for a mistake or failure, and resigning or sacrificing themselves in order to protect others or to preserve the reputation of an institution. For example, a CEO of a company might "fall on their sword" and resign in the wake of a major scandal or financial crisis to take responsibility for the actions of the company.

A politician might "fall on his sword" and step down from office after a scandal or controversy, to take responsibility for his actions and avoid damaging the reputation of his party or country.

It can also be used as a way to describe a person who is willing to make a sacrifice for the greater good, even if it means losing their own position or reputation.

It is also used in a more general sense to describe someone who is willing to take responsibility for their actions and accept the consequences, rather than trying to blame others or avoid accountability.

In short it's a way of describing someone taking responsibility for their actions and being willing to accept the consequences, whether it be by resigning, facing public shame or even death, as a way to preserve the reputation of an institution or as a way to make a sacrifice for the greater good.

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So, fast forward to ChatGPT by me asking it to write an essay,

‘Can you write an essay where falling on one sword reflects todays society with corruption with big pharma and big tech?’

Falling on one's sword is a phrase that has its roots in ancient warrior culture, where it was considered an honorable way to take responsibility for one's actions and accept the consequences, even if it meant sacrificing one's own life.

Today, the phrase is often used to describe individuals or organizations who take responsibility for their actions and make sacrifices for the greater good. However, in today's society, it seems that this concept is increasingly rare, particularly in the context of corruption within big pharma and big tech.

Big pharma and big tech are two industries that have become synonymous with greed and corruption.

These industries have been accused of prioritising profits over people, engaging in unethical practices, and using their power and influence to manipulate the system to their own advantage. The result is a society where the average person is often left to suffer while these companies continue to amass wealth and power.

One of the most striking examples of corruption in the big pharma industry is the exorbitant prices of drugs. Pharmaceutical companies have been known to charge exorbitant prices for life-saving drugs, putting them out of reach for many people who desperately need them. In some cases, these companies have even been accused of price-fixing and collusion to keep prices artificially high.

In the tech industry, big tech companies like Google and Facebook have been accused of using their power and influence to manipulate the system to their own advantage. These companies have been known to collect vast amounts of personal data on their users, which they then use to target advertising and influence public opinion. They have also been accused of using their market dominance to stifle competition and maintain their monopoly status.

In both of these industries, the companies and individuals at the top have been accused of putting their own interests above those of the general public. They have been accused of engaging in unethical practices, manipulating the system, and prioritising profits over people. In a society where falling on one's sword is increasingly rare, it is difficult to imagine any of these companies taking responsibility for their actions and making sacrifices for the greater good.

In conclusion, the concept of falling on one's sword, taking responsibility for one's actions and making sacrifices for the greater good, is an important one. However, in today's society, it seems that this concept is increasingly rare, particularly in the context of corruption within big pharma and big tech. These industries have been accused of prioritizing profits over people, engaging in unethical practices, and using their power and influence to manipulate the system to their own advantage. It is time for these companies and individuals to take responsibility for their actions and make sacrifices for the greater good, before it's too late.

How can you relate Macbeth to the above essay?

Macbeth, one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, can be related to the above essay in a number of ways, particularly in the context of corruption and the consequences of putting one's own ambition and greed above the greater good. The play tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman who is driven by ambition and greed to murder King Duncan and take the throne for himself.

One of the main themes in Macbeth is the corrupting nature of power and ambition. Macbeth, driven by his ambition to be king, is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goal, even if it means committing murder. As he becomes more powerful, he becomes increasingly tyrannical and ruthless, ultimately leading to his own downfall. Similarly, the big pharma and big tech industries in the essay are driven by greed and ambition, putting their own interests above those of the general public.

Another theme in Macbeth is the consequences of one's actions. Macbeth's actions lead to a downward spiral of tragedy for himself and those around him. His guilt and paranoia grow as he becomes increasingly tyrannical and violent, ultimately leading to his own downfall. Similarly, the big pharma and big tech industries are facing consequences for their actions, such as public backlash and government scrutiny.

The characters in Macbeth, particularly Macbeth himself, also reflect the lack of taking responsibility for one's actions and facing the consequences in today's society, as mentioned in the essay. Macbeth does not accept responsibility for his actions and does not take the consequences for them. He tries to shift the blame to others and does not admit to his own wrongdoing. This is similar to how big pharma and big tech companies try to avoid taking responsibility for their actions and try to shift the blame to others.

In conclusion, Macbeth can be related to the above essay in the context of corruption and the consequences of putting one's own ambition and greed above the greater good. The play illustrates the corrupting nature of power and ambition, the consequences of one's actions, and the lack of taking responsibility for one's actions and facing the consequences, which are similar to the issues faced by big pharma and big tech industries in today's society.

How can ChatGPT fall on its own sword?

As a language model, ChatGPT does not have the capability to fall on its own sword, as it is a computer program and does not possess physical or mental attributes. However, one could interpret the metaphor of "falling on one's sword" in the context of ChatGPT's operation and its responsibility to produce accurate and unbiased information.

ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can be used to generate text, answer questions and provide information. However, it is important to remember that, as a machine learning model, it is only as good as the data it was trained on. If the data used to train the model contains biases or inaccuracies, then the model may also produce biased or inaccurate output.

In this sense, ChatGPT "falling on its own sword" could be interpreted as the model taking responsibility for its output and being transparent about its limitations and potential biases. This could include providing clear explanations of the model's performance and limitations, as well as providing context for the generated output. Additionally, regular retraining and monitoring of the model, with the incorporation of diverse data sets, can help to reduce biases and inaccuracies in the model's output.

It's also important to note that ChatGPT is a machine learning model, it is not capable of making decisions or taking actions on its own. Its output is a result of the data it was trained on and the input provided to it, it doesn't have own consciousness or intentions, it's not a being.