The Third Man (1949)

In the movie, the Third Man (1949), the character Harry Lime, played by Orson Wells, says:
“… in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced
Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love – they had 500
years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”
Lime seems to be saying that terror, trouble, wars, and unrest tend to engender great advances in art, science,
culture and society, while peace and prosperity bring civilization little gain. Do you agree or disagree? Be sure
to back up your opinion with facts and information you have gleaned from both Speilvogel and Wiesner during
the course of History 102. If Harry Lime had lived through the years from 1949 to present, do you think his
opinion would be different? Why or why not. Again remember to back up your opinions with the information you
have studied during this entire course.