The Self-Destructive Dual Nature of Mankind as Interpreted by Sophocles, Voltaire, and Shelley
by This paper outlines, with the help of a few philosophical writings, one of many reasons people have trouble finding happiness. Although, most other difficulties with the human condition are caused by inherent dualities that we can’t seem to avoid….
So all of the pain, suffering, and torment in the world seem to arise from trying to obtain our own desires, while using the wrong judgment along the way. Antigone was foolish because she let her emotions steer her straight to ruin. She was unable to think about the situation and reason out a better way to carry out her plan. Creon had no compassion and because this affected his decisions it caused the death of his family while decreasing the favor of his subjects. Frankenstein’s mad experiment wasn’t tempered with emotional repercussions and caused him to abandon them, bringing the monster’s wrath down upon his own family. The monster Victor created let his emotions carry him like a whirlwind and it caused him to perform terrible acts of murder that he later deeply regretted. Candide led a misguided life, much like those in the world around him, and none of them could use reason and emotion the way they should have. Man ruins himself by selfishly pursuing grandiose desires, but it isn’t simply that which has the capacity to bring them unhappiness, it is also the decisions he makes along the way. These decisions must be made carefully and thought of both emotionally as well as rationally to get a complete understanding of the best course of action to take.
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