Analysis Of Wisdom Comes By Disillusionment By George Santayana

George Santayana, the Spanish-American philosopher, poet, and Harvard professor once stated “Wisdom comes by disillusionment”. This statement shows that with having no more misconceptions or false impressions of people or reality, individuals are then more knowledgeable of what is true or right, paired with just judgment as to action or insight.

Just like any other child, I believed my father was the most amazing person in the world. I believed he had my sisters and my best interests at heart; consequently, doing anything and everything in his power to benefit our well being. However, at the age of eleven this illusion gradually started fading. The illusion of my father disappeared because he deemed his marriage to my stepmother was more

significant than his own children. My stepmother hated my siblings and I with a deep passion and unknown reasoning. One day my stepmother awoke and decided she no longer wants my eldest sister, Ashley, to live under her roof anymore; thus, giving my father the conundrum of choosing his child or his wife. Unfortunately, he chose his wife and not only was Ashley removed from our household but she was also removed from our family. This only begun the to shatter the illusion of my father. As time went on the power my stepmother had over my father drastically increased, until she had diminished all of his control in our lives. After Ashley was no longer a trouble to my stepmother, she then turned her hatred towards my youngest sibling and I. My stepmother tortured us for years, while my father turned a blind eye. Eventually the abuse turned physical and my father just sat there silently watching, doing nothing to stop my stepmother. The first time I realized my father was never going to intervene with the abuse I was filled with nothing but hopelessness and disillusion. Although, this was a devastating experience, I learned at a young age that everyone, including family, will not act in your best interest. I also learned that no matter how important you are supposed to mean to someone does not mean they will do right for or by.