2012-2013 AP Chiefs discussion

Because The Power of One is semi-autobiographical, meaning that some of the events in the story actually occured, it can be analyzed not only as literature, but also as an example of psychology. Throughout the entire book Peekay was effected psychologically by the tortures inflicted upon him by the Judge. This lead him to live a life in camouflage, conforming to fit the expectations of those around him. Pounding the vomit out of the Judge at the end of the book seemed to somehow free Peekay of this psychological curse giving him the power of one and possibly allowing him to achieve what psychologists call self-actualization.

I agree that Peekay definitely is an example of a self-actualized person. However, I do not believe that Peekay acquired the power of one only after beating up the Judge. Peekay had obtained the power of one to survive; his enthusiastic and determined attitude allowed him to succeed at boxing and academia. Peekay’s thought process gives the reader valuable information on how a self-actualized person thinks. Personally, I think his mindset about winning is really intriguing. Peekay states, “I was seldom concerned with winning a particular fight; instead I was cultivating the habit of winning. Winning is a state of mind that embraces everything you do, so I found I won in other things as well…Winning was something you worked at intellectually; emotion clouds the mind and is its natural enemy. This made for a loneliness that left me aching to share an emotion but equally afraid that if I did so I would reveal a weakness that could later be used against me.” (358) I think the difference between a self-actualized person and a “normal” individual is the ability to be able to separate his or her emotions from a task. In a sense, the Judge gave Peekay the ability to be self-actualized when he would torture him as a prisoner of war; to survive the torture and humiliation Peekay had to learn to disregard emotion to stay camouflaged. It is not until Peekay beats up the Judge that he no longer feels the loneliness that the lack of emotion brought to his life. After the confrontation he explains, “I felt clean, all the bone-beaked loneliness birds banished, their rocky nests turned to river stones.” (513) Now that Peekay had finally survived, he was no longer afraid of being weak, and therefore did not feel the need to ignore his emotions. At that moment he may have exhibited the power of one, but from the beginning of the novel, Peekay had exhibited characteristics of self-actualization.

I can see why you would argue that Peekay had the power of one the entire time, and I agree with you. Peekay had the power of one within him, but I believe he did not fully achieve it until he defeated the Judge. Peekay describes it when he talks to Doc in dreamtime. "I told him of my fear of losing control of my destiny; how, because I had camouflaged myself so well, I seemed now to be shaped and directed too much by the needs of others. How the power of one within me was being dissipated even though their purposes for me were not corrupt or ill-intentioned... I was becoming powerless as those around me plundered my spirit with the gift of themselves." (471-472)Here he speaks of the power of one is "within" him, hinting that he has it but is not using it. Also, Peekay said that he "would be tested once more before the power of one would become mine alone. When my destiny would be in my own hands." (472) Here he can only be referring to the battle with the Judge, which cleanses his spirit and allows Peekay access to the power of one within him.