The essay starts off with a situation where a man leaves his wife for another woman, while that woman leaves her husband for the man. Clare argues they can do this because they have the “right to happiness.” Lewis disagrees with the idea that we have such an unlimited right. He argues that people like Clare have put sex about other impulses,when all other impulses “have to to be bridled. Absolute obedience to your instinct for self-preservation is what we call cowardice; to your acquisitive impulse, avarice.” People value being in love because it offers promises of lifelong happiness and are afraid if they miss this chance, they will never get another. Lewis finishes with the arguments that women will ultimately be the victims in such a society, because they are naturally more monogamous and men care more about a woman's looks than a woman does about a man's, and even though the "right to happiness" argument is mostly aimed at the sexual impulse, it will eventually "seep through our whole lives."
Professor Ribeiro told us a quote of Lewis: “We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” This is saying we scoff standards and do not hold them in high regard but find it surprising when people do something hurtful. It seems so weird that we would think this, but it goes with the idea of wanting something without doing the work for it.
During discussion, the Ribeiro's said we (meaning people) look for stuff on the outside of a person what we should be looking for on the inside. How true is that!
The failed promises of being in love connect back to our longings talked about in chapter 1 of Engaging God's World. People try to fill their longing for love and joy with things that cannot fill it, instead of putting their hope in the Lord. Are we willing to lay down the things we are longing for to God? And if we are chiefly concerned with our pursuit of longings, our right to happiness, we can easily ignore other people around us.
I found the quote Professor referenced from Pascal to be encouraging: "It is is good to be tired and weary from fruitlessly seeking the true good, so that one can stretch out one’s arms to the Redeemer."
I like the quote from Pascal a lot too; it is such a challenge. We want so much to be rewarded for our efforts, and we believe that it is this that brings us fulfillment, when in fact true fulfillment should come from knowing that we are serving His Kingdom. The "fruit" we sometimes see should just be icing on the cake, but this is difficult to internalize. I also liked how Lewis says that Clare would be scandalized if a business tycoon was claiming happiness by squandering money, which ties in with your quote that "we laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” Happiness for one is not happiness for another, and there lies the danger.
ReplyDeleteI like the Lewis quote you pointed out about laughing at honor. You are so right in your interpretation. It does go right along the lines with making exceptions for yourself in regards to standards we should hold true to. Nice job!
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