The past, present, and future collectively encompass the concept of time. They include experiences and lessons which lead to knowledge and memories. Time reveals the meaning of our individual lives.
To a person who believes in the principle of free will, time becomes a space of choices and decisions which lead to the end product: the entirety of his or her life. These people seemingly formulate their own truth through their personal values and chosen ethics. Humans who identify with free-will use their past, the surroundings in the present, and their hopes of the future to make a truth for themselves. To clarify, a person who was poor in their youth, but surrounded with ungrateful rich individuals in their young adult years may hope for a future in which people live comfortably economically, appreciating the blessings. This person uses time in a way to form a value of appreciation for having money. People like so treat life (past, present, and future) in such a way where there is no universally defined truth, but rather a rich palette of individual truths. In another example, my friend loves basketball. Life is basketball. Through reviewing his past, he noticed his athleticism was not up to par despite his great jump shot. Currently, he trains early each morning to boost his endurance and stamina along with his quickness by running constantly and differently. He hopes in his future to become professional. He has formed the truth in his mind that by running and training he will become a better basketball player in the long run. He hopes it will lead him to his hopeful truth of achieving his dreams.
In contrast, people who believe in the concept of fate and destiny see time as a way to unravel truth. These people accept the belief where each individual has a destined calling and end point. It is a life where nothing is truly a mistake, as every choice is innate within the perspective of a higher power. In this view point, life is a package, and a piece of wrapping is torn off each day. The truth is the truth of all people, and each truth coincides with the truth unraveled to another person to make up one whole truth. A man may be devastated due to a break up with one he thought he would marry. However, the break up allows him to meet his true soul mate. The future may open doors for kids who change lives. Events from the past are explained through the present and future. Further, the present is the obvious current truth and reality. While the future is tricky, it is an awaited truth. In fact, for both free will and fate believers, the future is still a symbol of hope as it can still change the unwanted outcome of the current truth. To further explain, religious clergy can identify with this perspective. Specifically, Catholics believe in a life devoted to God's will. The outcome of their lives is not their choice, but it is God's preference. Through people and prayers, he speaks to each Catholic and calls them to their vocation. A priest at my church recalled he was never good at school, and constantly he wondered why. When he received his calling to priest hood, he realized his talents and gifts were not in academics, but rather in helping and preaching the Gospel. He knows his rest of time will be fully devoted to the Church. In this way, past events were explained through the truth of a higher, more powerful being, God.
Altogether, the question becomes an argument of beliefs between fate and free will as each would think differently of the concept of time.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Creo que Oedipus Rex....
Oedipus Rex provokes major thought on all levels. While reading the story, I kept thinking about Oedipus's complex character. He seems like a man full of immense rage, yet he an adequate leader. In the time of Thebe's plague, he strongly sought to ruin the pollution of the state for his people. However, I find it so hard to believe he killed a man over such a small dilemma. I am also so shocked Oedipus did not find the age difference between him and his mother weird. It must have been at least an eighteen year gap. Maybe it was common at the time, yet I still find it hard to believe. I also found it disturbing how Oedipus used the brooches of Jacosta to stab his on eyes out: a little extreme, don't you think?
Oedipus's major character flaws lie in his stubbornness and ignorance. To begin, he unknowingly killed his father due to his thick head. He also became extremely anger during a bar fight. Still, when the messenger and prophet told him of his murder, he automatically accused the messenger of treason. He could not grasp the thought of him being the killer, despite the wisdom of the prophet. He even goes as far as to say prophecies do not hold true, dismissing the concept of destiny and fate. His stubbornness is a product of his ignorance. He must be clever as he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, yet how could he not put the pieces together sooner. How could have not crossed his mind? Even when he learns he is not the true son of Polybus, the King of Corinth, he assumes his mother is a slave. He already has enough information from Jocosta and the many oracles and prophets to piece information together.
Oedipus must symbolize the ignorance of man and man's strong will to go against the unwanted. His blinding ignorance may have been the reason for his unfortunate fate, which could not be over powered by any man. Oedipus continually tries to deny the prophecies, or fate, but in the end, destiny will show itself. Oedipus acts similar to Laius, who also tried rearrange his destiny. Neither trials worked, showing the superiority of higher powers over man. As discussed in class, Sophocles cleverly uses dramatic irony to put the role of man in perspective for the readers. He creates the position of an ominous god for the reader, while the characters become the ignorant men in the world to show there is no evading what is already written - destiny. By putting us the readers as temporary gods, he shows us the foolishness of when we try to escape fate as man.
Another thing I found intriguing was Creon's response to Oedipus accusing Creon of trying to take the throne. Although it was a minor detail, I found it extremely insightful as Creon says the position of king is harder but equally beneficial as a lower position. To me, this resonated the idea that a true leader doesn't do for himself so he may gain over his people, but rather he works so all his people may have the same benefits and an easier time. As an aspiring leader, I found this to be a strong statement in the play.
Overall, Oedipus Rex had a lot of depth for such a short story.
Oedipus's major character flaws lie in his stubbornness and ignorance. To begin, he unknowingly killed his father due to his thick head. He also became extremely anger during a bar fight. Still, when the messenger and prophet told him of his murder, he automatically accused the messenger of treason. He could not grasp the thought of him being the killer, despite the wisdom of the prophet. He even goes as far as to say prophecies do not hold true, dismissing the concept of destiny and fate. His stubbornness is a product of his ignorance. He must be clever as he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, yet how could he not put the pieces together sooner. How could have not crossed his mind? Even when he learns he is not the true son of Polybus, the King of Corinth, he assumes his mother is a slave. He already has enough information from Jocosta and the many oracles and prophets to piece information together.
Oedipus must symbolize the ignorance of man and man's strong will to go against the unwanted. His blinding ignorance may have been the reason for his unfortunate fate, which could not be over powered by any man. Oedipus continually tries to deny the prophecies, or fate, but in the end, destiny will show itself. Oedipus acts similar to Laius, who also tried rearrange his destiny. Neither trials worked, showing the superiority of higher powers over man. As discussed in class, Sophocles cleverly uses dramatic irony to put the role of man in perspective for the readers. He creates the position of an ominous god for the reader, while the characters become the ignorant men in the world to show there is no evading what is already written - destiny. By putting us the readers as temporary gods, he shows us the foolishness of when we try to escape fate as man.
Another thing I found intriguing was Creon's response to Oedipus accusing Creon of trying to take the throne. Although it was a minor detail, I found it extremely insightful as Creon says the position of king is harder but equally beneficial as a lower position. To me, this resonated the idea that a true leader doesn't do for himself so he may gain over his people, but rather he works so all his people may have the same benefits and an easier time. As an aspiring leader, I found this to be a strong statement in the play.
Overall, Oedipus Rex had a lot of depth for such a short story.
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