Definition Essay (Loyalty) Essay, Research Paper

It?s a beautiful fall afternoon, and the new folliage has made the New Hampshire air fresh and crisp. A man takes

his dog?s leash of the hook on the back of the laundry room door, and with a little jingle the dog comes running out

of the living room right to the man?s feet. He clips the leash, and the dog is all over him until they get outside. They

make for the path that starts in his backyard, but knows no end. As they get deep into the tunnel of reds,oranges,and

yellows, the path they are walking on turns around the corner of a big rock, and into to a huge black bear. The man

in his red flannel shirt and North Face vest freezes and the bear bats him to the ground with his paw. At this, the 70

pound dog charges at the massive bear and again the bear raises his mighty paw to knock the dog up against a tree,

and unconcious. After about an hour, the dog comes around to find his owner is laying dead in a pile of dried up

leaves. The dog stands up with a bit of a limp, and makes his way over to his owner. He nudges him behind the

elbow as if he wants the dead man to pet him. When there?s no reaction from the man, he circles around once, lies

up against the man?s cold side, and closes his eyes.

There are three parts to the definition of loyalty, and this dog displays all of them. The first part of the definition

is unconditional love. As soon as the dog knew what the man wanted to do, he was at his feet. The second part of

the definition is giving up rational thought and representing whoever or whatever you?re loyal to. Not only was it

obvious that the dog had no chance against the bear, but he also could have easily ran to safety. The last part of the

definition, is the willingness to lay down and die for someone or something. The dog could have found his way back

home, but he didn?t want the home without his life long companion.

The first part of Loyalty is easy to understand; unconditional love. When people get married, they take a vow of

unconditional love that is very much along the lines of loyalty. Phrases like, ?through sickness and health?, ?through

rich and through poor?, and ?until death do us part? are all phrases important to the idea of loyalty. To be willing to

give up your heart and soul to someone. When you give this vow, you know that your spouse has said these exact

words to you, and that you will always have a fond supporter. When you?re sick, and all your money?s gone, you

know that all the time and effort you?ve given to this person will be given back to you.

It sounds ridiculous that loyalty involves giving up rational thought just to represent the one you?re loyal to, but

it?s probably the most important part of the three. It?s like the end of the movie Braveheart. William Wallace, a

Scottish leader, has been sentenced to death by the King of England. If he pledges allegiance to England, he will be

decapitated. If he doesn?t he will be tortured to death. Obviously he is going to die either way, but he is loyal to

Scotland and will not pledge allegiance to England. It would be rational thinking to get your head chopped off

quickly and easily. Right before he is to be tortured, he is offered some kind of drug, from one of his friends, that

will make him num., but he doesn?t want it, because he wants to make sure that he won?t scream during the torture,

showing any disloyalty to Scotland. This is not only the most important part of the definition, but it?s also the

hardest to stand by.

There are many stories of parents giving up kidneys and other organs for their sick children. These parents are

willing to die for their children. They would rather have their child live than themselves. They make their child?s

life more important than their own. This is the third and final piece of loyalty. The willingness to lay down and die

for someone or something. Like the dog in the story, not only was he willing to give his life for his master?s, but

once his master was gone, he might as well have died too.

Being loyal to someone or something is not very easy. In our world today it?s hard to find true loyalty. Loyalty is

one of the biggest commitments someone can make. It?s a life long promise to someone letting them know they can

fall back on you. It?s a very hard thing to do, but it?s absolutely worthwhile. If you believe in what you?re doing,

you will carry it out until the end. If you choose a life of loyalty, it will guide you and control you, but you will

benefit greatly in personal gain.