Hannah Arendt explores the “The Banality of Evil” in her book Eichmann in Jerusalem, which is about the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a major organizer of the Holocaust. “The Banality of Evil” is referring to how evil intentions are built into the systems that run societies, which causes evil to be justified and spread. Eichmann aided in the genocide of 6 million Jews, but was considered a law-abiding citizen under Hitler’s Law. His actions were not considered evil because he had the support of Hitler and those in power. The banality of evil acknowledges this and demonstrates how evil acts can be normalized and even encouraged in society. Evil is not always caused directly; regular citizens like Eichmann are capable of horrendous things. Eichmann himself refuted the claim that he acted out of a criminal nature. He emphasized that he did not hate jews and even had jewish friends. He mentioned that “he would have had a bad conscience only if he had not done what he had been ordered to do” (25 Arendt). Eichmann did not believe that his actions were evil, even after listening to the direct impact of his actions. This proves how evil can be immensely downplayed when a system encourages it.
Furthermore, Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas mentions the banality of evil: “The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil is interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain” (Le Guin 315). Le Guin uses this phrase to demonstrate the dullness of evil. She explains that often people push the belief that pain is sophisticated and happiness is elementary. Le Guin points out that the opposite is true, saying that people must recognize that evil is straightforward and ordinary. There is nothing extraordinary about evil acts and anyone is capable of committing them. By recognizing the banality of evil, society can focus more on glorifying acts of goodwill, instead of obsessing over pain and evil. Therefore the banality of evil must be recognized so people realize the evil built into our everyday lives.
Bibliography
Arendt, Hannah. Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil. Rev. and enl. Ed, Penguin Books, 1994.
Le Guin, Ursula K. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. Creative Education, 1993.