Civilization and Its Discontents

Civilization and Its Discontents is Sigmund Freud’s analysis on the nature of civilization and how those within it can become discontent. Beginning with the source of religion, he posits that religion has its roots in infantile dependence on a father figure for its support and provision. From here, he moves into the general realm of relationships between people, namely that he strongest bond is that of sexual gratification, because it provides the greatest amount of pleasure and happiness, which is the goal of human life. Civilization though comes against the pursuit of these pleasures by enforcing a need for communal over personal happiness. This struggle continues into the realm of primal human aggressiveness as well. Freud later says that civilization introduces the super-ego, the initiator of one’s conscience, as a deterrent against aggressiveness, namely the form of guilt. However, Freud believes the restriction of these aggressive impulses can cause more damage to the person than if they had been acted out. Thus, there seems the inevitable, eternal struggle between the individual and civilization.

Frankly, I disagreed with a lot of what he said. I think it may be because he does not seem to have a correct understanding of love, that it is not something that must be selfishly indulged but one of self-sacrifice. He gives his definition of power of love as “the male unwilling to be deprived of his sexual object – the woman –, and the woman unwilling to be deprived of the part of herself which had been separated off from her – the child,” (79-80). In both these relationships, there is nothing of sacrifice on the part of the lover; no thought is given to the well-fare of the beloved. Everything revolves around the maintaining of happiness for the individual, even at the cost of the beloved. No wonder there is so much turmoil in Freud's view of civilization if its basis is such an understanding of love.

Anna Karenina - Part 2

After her recovery, Anna leaves to live her life with Vronsky. Traveling across Europe, they visit the major cities, living in Italy for a short time, before returning to Russia. It seems that nearly all her dreams have true. Her brother Stepan Arkadyich says of her, “She, though, you’ll see how she’s arranged her life, how calm and dignified she is,” (695). Her life is how she’s wanted it. She is no longer under Karenin’s control; she is with the man she adores above all others. She can finally live. So long as she is with Vronsky nothing else matters. So long as he loves her, the rest of the world and all its concerns are irrelevant.

However, the harder Anna tries to hold onto Vronsky, the farther he seems to go from her. “[He] coldly look[ed] at her, her hair, the dress he knew she had put on for him. … He liked it all, but he had already liked it so many times! And the stony, stern expression she had been so afraid of settle on his face,” (667). By all her arts and charms, Anna tries to tie Vronsky inseparably to herself, just as when they first met. Yet, despite her efforts, he keeps pulling away. She cannot live without his love but she cannot seem to keep it now. She has tried, almost smothering him with, love and dependence but still he leaves her. Even when Vronsky says that he cannot live without her, she sees that it is agony for him to be tied to her in the way she desires. “But the look that flashed in his eyes as he spoke those tender words was not only the cold, angry look of a persecuted and embittered man. She saw that look and correctly guessed its meaning. ‘If it is like this, it is a disaster!’ said the look. It was a momentary impression, but she never forgot it,” (668).

Anna Karenina - Part 1

Anna Karenina leads a respectable life, if not a happy one. She is comfortably situated with a government official, Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin, and absolutely adores her son. However, everything changes once she meets Count Alexei Vronsky. His devoted attention arouses in her feelings of passion and desire that she had not hitherto known with her husband. Before too long, she and Vronsky are deeply in love, and she becomes further and further estranged from her husband. Eventually, she tells him everything. He is mortified but asks only that she not see Vronsky. When Anna is unable to do this, he begins the painful filing for divorce.

However, after a separation, Karenin hears that Anna is ill and hurries over to see whether or not she has died. At first, he goes there secretly hoping that she has already died but, after he sees her desperately looking for him and asking for his forgiveness, his heart is overwhelmed with pity and love. He forgives her and even does what he can to help her back to health and take care of her daughter by Vronsky.

From the beginning to the middle of the novel, Alexei Alexandrovich changes drastically. He begins as a hard, driven man who cares minimally for his wife and son. He does not seem to see in them a real need but a tool by which to augment his rising career, and above all, believes in the importance of keeping appearances. Yet, when he sees his wife at death’s door, his heart of stone begins to melt and feel for, possibly, the first time. He finds joy in forgiving and loving Anna that he had not known while living respectably with her. He wants to put her wants before his own.

The Rules of the Game

Credited as one of the greatest films of all times, The Rules of the Game follows the romantic interactions of several members of a party of the French nobility, both guests and servants. Constant flirting and intrigue surround everyone as they pursue those they love, or seem to love, and no one seems to take no for an answer. From the servants to the hosts, both men and women deplore the state of the opposite gender as hopeless and yet still try to impress and win one another. Above all though rides this principle of dignity and propriety that must be followed when in love. The cast either respects these rules or tries to break them for their love.

When I’d first read a synopsis of the plot, I didn’t really understand the title. As I watched though, it became clearer: the game was love and everyone had to follow certain rules, or at least look like it. The aviator Jean and hostess Christine want to runaway but, Jean wants to follow propriety and tell her husband, the Marquis, that they are going away. Christine doesn’t feel the same and wishes that he would simply take her in his arms and runaway with her. She couldn’t care less about the rules of the game called love; all that matters to her is action dictated by feeling. Her wish is granted when her true love, Octave, says that they will runaway together. However, their plans are foiled when a case of mistaken identity leads to death, really meant for Octave. What might the director be saying about those who try to break the rules?

Jane Eyre - Part 2

After hearing Rochester call her name from across the moor, Jane rushes to find him from her home with her newly discovered family. She reaches the village outside Thornfield only to learn that the manor has burned and vacated. Unable to understand how all this has happened, she coaxes the story from an innkeeper. She learns that Bertha, Rochester’s mad wife, set the place ablaze and then dove from the roof to her death. Her husband, meanwhile, hurried the servants out before trying to save his wife. Unsuccessful, he was trapped in the house but came out alive, blinded and crippled. Finally though, she hears that he has locked himself away in a country cottage. Coming to the cottage, the servants allow her to see him.

When she enters, she coyly reveals himself to him. Both are overjoyed and filled to overflowing with love for one another. Over the next few days, Jane nurtures Rochester to better health and they give accounts of their time since parting. Probably the most profound realization comes from Rochester as he describes God and his re-discovery of Him.

He sees not as man sees, but far clearer: judges not as man judges, but far more wisely. I did wrong: I would have sullied my innocent flower – breathed guilt on its purity: the Omnipotent snatched it from me. . . . Of late, Jane – only – only of late – I began to see and acknowledge the hand of God in my doom. I began to experience remorse, repentance, the wish for reconcilement to my Maker. (514-15)

Rochester resented Jane’s removal; he saw her as his salvation and she left him. He could not understand how God could take from what was his saving grace and leave him to wallow in his despair. Only after disaster struck did he begin to reflect on the purpose behind Jane’s leaving.

This is what I have heard called a severe mercy. God, in His infinite mercy, removes something dear from one’s life that has become a hindrance to the progress of one’s soul. Often, the one left behind feels betrayed and embittered towards God. However, it is only upon reflection that they realize the goodness of severance and how wise God was in His judgment. For Rochester, only after Jane left was he able to see what he would have done to her, that he was trying to pollute the purity that would save him. In this realization, he experiences remorse for his actions and repents to the Master that Jane obeyed against the love she bore her earthly one.