Honor by Tainiska

Honor by Tainiska - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

What is honor? Is it simply just a word as William Shakespeare expresses in “Henry IV” by saying “ What is honor? A word. What is in that word ‘honor’? What is that ‘honor’? Air.” What truly is honor? Many believe honor signifies loyalty, trust and respect. To a material world it is a man-given rank for those who practice good deeds, but that is of course, by man’s rubric of what is good. There are two different types of honor; the honor we show to man and the honor with which I serve my Lord. In Agnes Grey, They show you the difference between these two types of honors. Though many may not see any contrast between the honor of man and honor that comes from passion, you must first remember that the reader gives meaning to the words being read and so it is necessary to continue with an unbiased mind.

In our current times, honor is usually a title and an award given to a man or women for performing an action that is categorized as “honorable”, such as: rescuing a child from a burning home, volunteering time to a charity or even cancelling Saturday night plans to spend time feeding the homeless. To honor this person is to acknowledge their good doings, just as a veteran may be properly thanked by receiving a medal of honor for serving our country. This kind of honor is a rank being received. In Agnes Grey by Anna Bronte, Agnes’ pupils grow up and go on to find a “worthy” husband. To Rosalie Murray, being Mistress of Ashby Park and claiming the name of “Mrs. Ashby”, deems her worthy of being honored.

Though this sort of honor is in no way, shape or form classified as wrong, it does have many differences to the honor with which I praise my God. This honor is more than a word, more than a rank and more than the variety of definitions Webster’s dictionary has to offer. The honor I speak of is a movement, a choice, it is a belief and it is life. I honor my Savior with everything I do, every word I speak, every poem I write, and every song that I sing. I hold on to everything that I believe in , every principle I hold dear, making sure every movement and every step that I take is to honor my God. This sort of honor is the most valuable. It is when you pour out all your time and passion into someone or something you love, just to make sure it is valued for what it truly means in your heart. In Agnes Grey, She shows the way she carries her way of being in a honorable way.

All students should know the difference between these two types of honors. William Shakespeare wrote “Life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honor far more precious dear than life”. Honor is a big part of life and sometimes may be differently interpreted. Students should learn this .