Final answer:
Lady Lesso's statement and the provided text excerpts delve into attitudes towards unnecessary cruelty, emphasizing the dehumanizing aspects of power dynamics and conflict situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Lady Lesso said about unnecessary cruelty - hurting without reason can be discerned from the text referencing self-preservation and the absence of cruelty in such a context. The broader scope of the sources paints a picture of the various attitudes toward cruelty, particularly in settings of power dynamics, like slavery and war. From Lady Lesso's brief mention to the excerpts showing the dehumanizing effects of enslavement and the callous behavior during conflicts, it is evident that these experiences explore the concept of cruelty as it intersects with human dignity and morality.
Instances like Mr. Severe's enjoyment of his barbarity, the dehumanization of slaves, and the suffering inflicted by Mrs. Hamilton highlight the pervasive cruelty within systems of slavery. The conversation about wars causing tragedies, regardless of the perceived greater good, also taps into the idea that pain inflicted on individuals is weighed against the benefits to the masses. This paints a complex picture of the moral landscape where cruelty is sometimes excused for a so-called higher purpose, and at other times, it's seen as an unforgivable trespass against the sanctity of human life.