philoctetes
I find the main idea of choice a intresting idea that the philocetes presents and the approach individuals have to make. In our everyday life we are accustomed to everything moving in a type of order, we are creatures of habit. The Philocetetes shows how even through circumstances that may not be optimal we are still not willing to venture past whether we are not comfortabe with it or complacent with what we have in the moment. Philocetetes show uncertainty regarding both these issues. The series of events that happened to lead to the situation at hand is also applicable to the real world, demonstrating events that seemingly are unrelated, but in fact have a part to play in the end or conclusion of some even whether it be bad or good.
It's interesting that you point out the tenacity with which we hold onto the past and to our present circumstances. Looking to Philoctetes, he seems to hold onto his present pain and the grievances committed against him - but why? It seems mystifying when reading the tragedy, but it holds a peculiar relevance to human nature. For some reason, we often cling to our suffering - we refuse to let go of the pain. Again, why? Is it that the pain has become part of our identity? One would think that letting go of pain or actively seeking for its relief would be a natural tendency, and yet often we hold onto our physical and psychological traumas. What does this say about human nature? Is there a reason we can divine, at least from this tragedy?
ReplyDeleteIf we are not acting under the identity of our pain, or what we have known and defined ourselves by for most of our lives, then it opens us up to more responsibilities and possibilities. We may not feel that we can live up to the unknown potential and therefore feel safer holding on to our crippling disabilities because they give us an excuse to justify where we’re at in life and that we must stay there. In our story, it may be easier for Philoctetes to accept his limits that come with pain rather than to venture into new territory that comes with possible failure.
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