Ethical Issues In Human Bondage

The film Human Bondage gave a disturbing analysis of the history of human trafficking. The roots of this dehumanizing practice can be traced back to ancient times. Early civilizations like the Greeks and Romans would take prisoners of war and use them as slaves. This was seen as a common practice, as humans were commodified and their trade was integrated into the economies of these early societies. Though taking prisoners of war was a fairly common practice, slavery took many different forms in various ancient civilizations. Sometimes slaves were more humanized, as seen in ancient Muslim societies. They also had different uses: teachers, laborers, concubines, or entertainers. The film then gave a short overview of modern day slavery, namely the slavery in America and the similar systems established in Nazi Germany, Russia, and World War II-era Japan. Finally, it concluded with the terrible story of a twelve-year-old former trafficking victim who was assassinated …show more content…
It is true that, when you get enough people living together in one area, certain cultural aspects tend to develop. It may be true that trafficking is one of those aspects. To further this analysis of cultural integration, it is also true that human trafficking reflects the culture that utilizes it. This is true throughout history. For example, the Romans valued strength and masculinity, and used their slaves as gladiators to reflect these values in their entertainment. Likewise, the enslavement of Africans for labor in America reflects the capitalist values and racism of the United States. One common thread lies within all cultures, however: traffickers and the people who facilitate trafficking are capable of astounding violence and cruelty. The very idea of enslaving another person requires a significant lack of