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Halls of the Dark Muse

What does it mean to be "Only Human?"

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by
Dark Muse
, 01-06-2012 at 05:58 PM (2124 Views)
One thing which I encounter quite frequently in literary experiences and which has always baffled me, is that it seems whenever a character within a book commits an act which is morally questionable, people are quick to forgive them or excuse them on the basis that they are "only human" or see thier misdeeds as as proof of thier humanity. I have never really understand this mode of thinking.

Now I do not think that characters should all be portrayed as being perfect as this would be uninterested and unrealistic, but when a character does act in a questionable way, do they not deserve to earn our judgement, scorn, disapproval, instead of being defended for it on the grounds of thier being human?

How can any misdeed, transgression, indiscretion, mistake, bad behavior, be rendered completely excusable or acceptable, purely based upon ones "humanness?"

Is this ever a viable/acceptable excuse in our real life experiences?

If someone wrongs us in some grievous way do we just let it go, and believe they should be completely excused and forgiven purely on the account of thier being human?

And where is the line drawn? How do we decide what offences can be or should be forgiven on the grounds of one being "only human" and when do we decide that in spite of thier being human thier actions still deserve condemnation?

I often get accused of being too judgemental, or too black and white in my literary discussion becasue of my staunch disapproval of the actions and behaviors of characters in books.

And people always pull that "they are only human" line on me and I always wonder, but how does that make what they did ok?
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  1. mtpspur's Avatar
    You raise some very good points. Defintely telling my lawyers to let oyu loose from jury selction--this is meant as humor. When I was younger black was balck, white was white. Then the concept of grey got introduced by way of a Monkess song from the 60s. I believe that the phrase only human is shorthand for if not condoning the offense or failure at least giving room for forgiveness. Without going into details I can assure you I have sins I would wish to relive and avoid and to be very frank some sins I have NOT really in my heart of heart repented of. The question then becomes how long does one poay the porice of wrongdoing and failure--what measuring riod is used. The older I get the more unqualified I find myself to be in rendering a just opinion--but I can be at least observant. Judgement is found ion the Old Testamanet--Mercy ion the New--which is griossly simplified. Or to be in character Superman is always right--Spider-Man is only human. Hope this presents a point of view and of some help. Have always admired your strong sense of self and value system. Hang in there and be at peace.
  2. Dark Muse's Avatar
    I do appreciate your thoughts and comments upon this. I think that the "forgiveness" question is my key problem. I am a grudge holder and I do have a very strong sense that when someone wrongs me there needs to be retribution made. Before I can forgive someone, I must first feel that some form of vengeance or punishment was reaped upon them.

    I have a very close friend, with whom my relationship has had a very subtle, but significant, and long lasting shift, because of something he said to me once which I felt was unjust and of which he never acknowledged/saw the wrongness of it, never apologized for it, and so though I more or less let it go, it affected a certain level of our intimacy as friends. Though I love him like a brother and we are still very close, there are things now which I choose not to tell him or share with him which previously I would have done so without hesitation.
  3. Virgil's Avatar
    Definitely interesting points D-M. We do excuse bad behavior way too easily. I guess it depends on the transgression. Obviously no one would say that he's only human if he just sliced the throats of a bunch of people on the subway. However, if I let slip a curse word or two in the middle of a disagreeable meeting at work(), I hope people would cut me some slack. I am only human.
  4. Dark Muse's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Virgil
    However, if I let slip a curse word or two in the middle of a disagreeable meeting at work(), I hope people would cut me some slack. I am only human.
    Haha even I am not that unreasonable! I forgive a curse word or two.

    But well you have partaken in enough discussions with me to know the one point which always rubs me the wrong way. Being that of infidelity, and that one seems to get forgiven a lot in the classification of "only human"

    And somehow other people view me as the "bad guy" for coming on the side of condemnation of such.
  5. Virgil's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dark Muse
    Haha even I am not that unreasonable! I forgive a curse word or two.

    But well you have partaken in enough discussions with me to know the one point which always rubs me the wrong way. Being that of infidelity, and that one seems to get forgiven a lot in the classification of "only human"

    And somehow other people view me as the "bad guy" for coming on the side of condemnation of such.
    Yes, I understand and I agree with you. Infidelity should always be condemned. However, at some point in time, we should take the totality of a person into consideration and not just one transgression, given that transgression is not murder or something like that.
  6. Dark Muse's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Virgil
    Yes, I understand and I agree with you. Infidelity should always be condemned. However, at some point in time, we should take the totality of a person into consideration and not just one transgression, given that transgression is not murder or something like that.
    Though I have to say in literature I have been known to be more forgiving of characters who have committed murder, than those who have committed infidelity.