Chapter 254
The Scapegoat's Blood
Toward nine o’clock in the morning, when the troops were already moving through Moscow, nobody came to the count any more for instructions. Those who were able to get away were going of their own accord, those who remained behind decided for themselves what they must do. The count ordered his carriage that he might drive to Sokólniki, and sat in his study with folded hands, morose, sallow, and taciturn. In quiet and untroubled times it seems to every administrator that it is only by his efforts that the whole population under his rule is kept going, and in this…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Scapegoat Pattern
Think of a recent situation where someone in authority blamed an individual for a bigger problem. Draw or write out the three stages: What crisis threatened the leader's power? Who did they choose as the target? How did they redirect anger toward that person? Then identify what the leader gained by sacrificing someone else.
Consider:
- •Look for vulnerable targets - people with less power, different backgrounds, or who can't fight back
- •Notice how the scapegoat is presented as the real problem, not just part of it
- •Pay attention to how quickly crowds turn violent when given permission by authority
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you felt pressured to blame someone else for a problem you were part of. What stopped you or what made you do it? How did it feel afterward?
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