From the beginning the human race has been chasing after how to make our lives longer. From the 1800s when life expectancy was between thirty and forty years of age to today ,with our advanced technologies, most people can expect to live over seventy-five years. Yet we still strive to find a way to live forever, which is evident by the research going into cryogenically freezing bodies. Yet Circe, who was immortal, chose to become mortal for love. Many people would question this decision of her's, and wonder why she wouldn't want to live forever. However, Circe had been around for centuries and understood the benefits of mortality. Circe's centuries of life were not the best of conditions, because she became an outcast among the gods due to her powers. The gods believed that her powers were too dangerous and also became angry with her for helping humans, which led to her exile on the island. She lived such a terrible life on the island and it quickly became a sanctuary for the nymphs, who were escaping the awful gods. Even with all of the nymphs on the island with her Circe felt alone and empty, because she had an empty place in her heart for a lover. Yet, the only people she fell in love with were humans, which brought upon the problem of mortality. Since Circe was immortal she could live forever and see the world from beginning to end, but her lovers were mortal and had a finite time on earth. After her love life with Odysseus fell through she fell in love with another man, and he was the one that led her to give up her divinity and her immortality. Once she finally gave up immortality there was a sense of relief she had. No longer did she have to bear the pain of being fascinated with these mortal humans, and loving them so dearly, yet knowing she will live to see the day they pass away and live for eternity without them. Circe understood the benefit of mortality, because once the mortals passed they no longer dealt with their pain of heartbreak. After reading the story of Circe, I think the decision of whether immortality or mortality is better, is extremely clear. Mortality is better, because if you never die the burdens of the lives you watch pile up, and it becomes an isolated life. No one deserves to live the terrible isolated, abandoned life that Circe lived. She understood that for her giving up her divinity was the best decision to make.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHello there, you can read about me in the about tab. Archives
November 2021
Categories |