UNDERSTANDING ETHICS THROUGH LITERATURE - CHARACTER, HONOR, AND THE CORRUPTION OF BODY AND SOUL IN KING-RAT

The subject of ethics is frequently found at the center of issues that can profoundly affect the way in which both citizens and administrato rs choose to live. An undersued but highly effective means of introduc ing the complexities of the subject may be found in carefully selected works of literature. Thtr approach can sustain the interest of studen ts while emphasizing the critical distinctions that are a fundamental part of the subject matter James Clavell's King Rat is one such work o f literature. In a Japanese prison camp at the close of World War II, democratic and aristocratic captives struggle to preserve their bodies without sacrificing what remains of their souls. The resulting tale p rovides a powerful examination of such issues as character; virtue, vi ce, fitness to rule, the good citizen versus the goad human being, and , most especially, honor.