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Theme of love in literature
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The final aspect of Philia that sets it so apart from the other loves in its unnatural ways is its exclusivity. In Eros, there is little choice in whom a person falls in love with and in Affection there are the factors of proximity and exposure. Friendship is different from both those types of love because it is the choice of the individual. They are able to choose one another, or as Lewis more explicitly says are chosen by God. There are many circumstances that must align in order for people to enter into friendships that God orchestrates. Lewis wants to make it clear that the pleasures of friendship are not rewards from our choosing. It is in a friendship that the beauties that lie in all men are found because it is from Him that these beauties are derived (90). Friendship is a peek into the true identities of other humans or the “chosen guests” of God’s coming feast (90). Lewis argues the point that friendship is the freest love, however, God is always in control of the details that pull individuals together. The sovereignty of God is the greatest gear in work within Lewis’s view. Lewis is most qualified to speak on this type of love out of the four covered in his book because of his life experience. His understanding of …show more content…
Lewis believes that friendship is defined by the similar value of a truth while Goodrich believes that it is based solely on similarity of self. Goodrich agrees with the idea of friends choosing one another, but only to an extent because he believes that subconscious forces may be at work. They both agree on the presence of a spiritual aspect of friendship and the . Goodrich would say it is the combination of both parties creating a stronger unified spirit while Lewis would argue that it is just the betterment of the individuals. Lewis would disagree with Goodrich’s ideas that friendship is hard to identify, but would agree of friendship going beyond this realm of
In the poems, “EΡΩΣ” by Robert Bridges and “Eros” by Anne Stevenson both have similar yet distinct concepts of the God of love. “EΡΩΣ” describes the concept of love as being conflicted between humans view of Eros as the god of love and lust; where as Stevenson’s poem describes Eros as being bruised and beat up as a result of this constant misunderstanding by humanity. Thus, both poems are similar with their description of Eros’ constant struggles with human nature. “EΡΩΣ” by Robert Bridges has a contradictory concept of what humans view as love, thus the negative and positive comparisons are between Eros different angles in love and lust. For instance, Eros is described as both having “exuberant flesh so fair” yet
In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis addresses a position on love that is seldom heard, yet universally felt. Screwtape makes a very clear distinction between his ideal of love and true love. If we take what Screwtape thinks love is, and reverse the teaching completely, all that is left is the love that God approves of. The purest and most sought after love is God’s. Love has been divided by C.S. Lewis into five ways. One way, taught in The Screwtape Letters is “being in love”. The other four ways is taught through The Four Loves: Affection, friendship (philia), romantic love (eros), and Agape love. Understanding the difference between the lo...
Aristotle regards Virtue Friendship as perfect. He does not comment on the potential negatives, whereas Lewis more realistically presents possible dangers of his highest form of friendship. Lewis believes that the birth of friendship proper from companionship reveals friendship’s dark and idolatrous side. Lewis comments on the sense of inclusiveness between friends that can create an “us/them” tension that can be potentially dangerous. He believes there is danger in the sense that a partial indifference or deafness to the voices of the outside world may develop and morph into dangerous perversions of
Love comes in so many shapes and forms. Nowlan presents a good view of love being
Late one evening, curled up in her nest, Harriet lay thoughtfully reading the last of Aristotle’s model of friendships: the perfect friendship. Though no secret to Harriet, Aristotle presents the idea that it is the most desirable and genuine of the three forms. The foundation of this friendship is not trivial, but instead the relationship is built on a common good and virtuous nature. As Aristotle explains, “those who love for the sake of utility love for the sake of what is good for themselves, and those who love for the sake of pleasure do so for the sake of what is pleasant to themselves.” Aristotle continues, “Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in virtue; for those wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves.” (concluding sentence or two...)
There are many essential emotions that form the building blocks of our lives. These emotions help to shape the people that we are. These feelings are emotional necessities to ultimately keep us happy. No piece of literature these feelings more evident than the Odyssey by Homer. Throughout the course of this book there is one major emotional theme: love.
In the Symposium, a most interesting view on love and soul mates are provided by one of the characters, Aristophanes. In the speech of Aristophanes, he says that there is basically a type of love that connects people. Aristophanes begins his description of love by telling the tale of how love began. He presents the tale of three sexes: male, female, and a combination of both. These three distinct sexes represented one’s soul. These souls split in half, creating a mirror image of each one of them. Aristophanes describes love as the search for the other half of your soul in this quote: “When a man’s natural form was split in two, each half went round looking for its other half. They put their arms around one another, and embraced each other, in their desire to grow together again. Aristophanes theme is the power of Eros and how not to abuse it.
The William Shakespeare tragedy Othello features various types of love, but none compare to the love we find between the protagonist and his wife. In this essay let us examine “love” as found in the play.
This passage marks the first of several types of love, and gives us an intuitive
Conclusively, the similarities of friendship and virtue allow the two states to correspond with one another in a happy life. The purpose of friendship is not only to coexist with virtue but also, by the actions of friends, virtue and friendship strengthen one another, making happiness all the more easy to attain because of it. Aristotle sums it up nicely, by saying “the friendship of decent people is decent, and increases the more often they meet. And they seem to become better still from their activities and their mutual correction. For each molds the other in a what they approve of, so that you will learn what is noble from noble people (1172a11-14).”
Friendship is a bond that brings society together as a whole. The article, “Friendship in an Age of Economics” by Todd May describes six friendships that pertains to life. In the Of Mice and Men excerpt, the reader meets two characters, George and Lennie, and their friendship is shown. Of the six friendships, in “Friendship in an Age of Economics,” the true friendship, developed by Aristotle, is used in Of Mice and Men through George and Lennie’s relationship because of how they act towards each other, and how they take care of one another through many different ways.
In Sappho's poems, she does not take on a typical point of view of love as she describes the allure and agony through her own experience. This alternative approach to love is shown in Sappho's poems 16 as she makes a connection between her own life and the emotions behind the Trojan war. Also, in 31 she describes a physical pain that opens up her life to the audience through her experience with jealousy. Another link between author and audience is seen in poem 94 as Sappho tells a story of her heartbreak. Then in Sappho's fragments 48 and 51, there are short personal phrases, allowing the readers to fill in the rest with their thoughts. It is with Sappho's first-person perspective that she creates an intimate connection with the audience
In classical Greek literature the subject of love is commonly a prominent theme. However, throughout these varied texts the subject of Love becomes a multi-faceted being. From this common occurrence in literature we can assume that this subject had a large impact on day-to-day life. One text that explores the many faces of love in everyday life is Plato’s Symposium. In this text we hear a number of views on the subject of love and what the true nature of love is. This essay will focus on a speech by Pausanius. Pausanius’s speech concentrates on the goddess Aphrodite. In particular he looks at her two forms, as a promoter of “Celestial Love” as well as “Common Love.” This idea of “Common Love” can be seen in a real life context in the tragedy “Hippolytus” by Euripides. This brings the philosophical views made by Pausanius into a real-life context.
Pure and Foolish Love in Othello Othello, the central character of William Shakespeare's play, is an excellent leader but a poor reasoner and foolish lover. The tragedy of Othello' is largely due to Othello's personality and life experience. Othello believes himself to be loved and respected by everyone around him as most people refer to him as the "noble General Othello". Othello, after realizing his tragic mistake of murdering his innocent wife, Desdemona, claims he "loved not wisely, but too well". This is an honest reflection of himself as his love was true and pure but also foolish.
Love plays a significant role throughout Dante’s Divine Comedy in determining whether a soul will reach salvation. Each realm of the afterlife symbolizes the type of love its inhabitants exercised while they were living on Earth. Inferno shows how disordered love towards earthly desires dominates an individual while Paradise is the final ascension where the soul may live in God’s love. Although those in Paradise may have sinned, they repented long before their death. However, Purgatory is unlike Inferno or Paradise. The inhabitants of Purgatory are those who started to repent later in their lifetimes, but still often only thought of their individual needs and corporeal pleasures. Thus it makes intuitive sense that they are placed between Heaven and Hell. Purgatorio serves a great importance in bridging the gap between these two extremes by defining love and in so the concept of man’s will. This section of Dante’s journey deals with the knowledge and teaching of love, as Beatrice and others help outline love for Dante so he can make the climb to paradise and be worthy of entering heaven. Additionally, Purgatorio helps explain how man chooses love and why those who keep true to God through their response to earthly desires will be living in God’s image. In exploring the dynamic concept of love and how errors in free will can account for sins, Dante gains salvation by fixing his will towards God so that he is able to eternally exist in God’s order.