The Lust for Power in ‘House of Cards.’

I started watching Netflix’s original TV series “House of Cards” after a few friends told me how entertaining it was. During the beginning of the show I cheered for Frank Underwood. He was robbed of his position as Secretary of State and strived for what he thought he owned. I thought he just wanted the Secretary of State position, but when he achieved that position it was not enough for him. He continued his devious schemes until he became president of the United Sates.

The moment I stopped cheering for Frank was when he committed his first murder. That was the moment when he went from a crooked ambitious politician, which somewhat can be understandable and forgiving to being a cold blooded murderer of one man with children, and a young journalist.

Frank committed adultery, but his wife knew of it and she was having an affair of her own. Not saying that knowing of your spouse’s affair makes it okay, but they were doing it for the bigger picture which made it acceptable for entertainment purposes. 

Frank threatened peoples’ careers and ruined some, but some of those politicians were crooked themselves and brought strife to their careers because they decided not to play by Frank’s rules. There is much sympathy for those who lost money or prestige in their career because every politician played dirty, and Frank just so happened to be the dirtiest kid in the playground. 

Despite all the wrong that Frank did to achieve his political lust, I did not hate Frank until he became a murderer. That was when I knew he had not a beacon of light in his soul. I thought that justice would be served for his murders. I thought that the President would see right through Frank’s deception. I thought if Frank did not suffer from his evil then his only loved one, Claire, would pay a huge price for his selfishness, but in the end of season 2 Frank won it all.

Frank may look at himself as a God and that anything his heart desires he can achieve by any means necessary. But, Frank’s ruthlessness bought him power at what cost? The president position is four years, and if he’d won a second term it would be a total of eight years. The president position is the most prestigious career to have in America, but the power is very short lived. Four years go by so fast that it feels like we inaugurate a president one day and tomorrow we’re voting again.