Faust - the myth of man
The myth of a faustic man tells the story of a person who wants to live life to the fullest and gain power over the world, even at the cost of selling their souls to the devil. In the 21st century, we notice a similar attitude among people who have desires that often exceed their intellectual, mental or, finally, financial capabilities.
The mythical devil of our times we can freely call a rich offer of various temptations that make it easier to overcome the path to a career. Young talented people sometimes unexpectedly discover their Achilles heel, for example only in high school they start learning German, which turns out to be an insurmountable barrier. In such a case, their utopian vision of the world falls into ruins. A period of discouragement and depression begins. One feels weakened and grabs every rescue board - even when a drug dealer stretches out a helping hand to him. Convinced of the wonderful properties of the tablet, the student takes it and suddenly the grammar becomes simple for him, and pronunciation ceases to be a difficulty. That's true, but the problem comes along with addiction and lack of cash. Probably everyone knows the stories of the deaths of drug addicts, at whose funerals they spoke: "After all, he learned so well", "It was the best", "He won so many competitions". One should avoid pursuing the goal at the cost of losing one's own health or, in the end, life.
However, we should not think only about ourselves. Deciding to create a family, we sign a specific document committing first of all to love, closeness, and responsibility, only then to provide means of subsistence. Successful people setting up their own companies often forget about it. What counts for them is a career, money, the development of the company and even more money. This is the mistake made by Ebenezer Scrooge, the hero of Charles Dickens' Christmas Eve Story. He forgot what love was, only career and wealth were important to him. However, under the influence of the spirits of the deceased's close ones, Scrooge changes for the better and becomes again a cheerful, good man.
It is regrettable how many marriages fall apart because of the argument over money or the spouses' chase for a better and better position. Of course, children suffer the most because their period of primary socialization is disrupted and their psyche is shaken. How can such toddlers learn about love and how to deal with it in adult life when their parents' sick ambitions have lost the most important role models, from which each child should draw as much example as possible? They often face the same fate, precisely because of the unstable development process. Unhappy people poison others' lives because they envy them for a better job, a higher standard of living or just a smile on their faces. You don't have to be an exceptional guy to get promoted - it's enough to do your job reliably and not to be discouraged by failures. Unfortunately, not everyone understands this... How often do you hear about killings or beatings out of jealousy for a better position?
The worst of all, however, are the parents who order their children to pursue their own unfulfilled ambitions. They force them to learn, to play sports, to play an instrument, even when the children have no talent or desire to do so. Conflicts, fights, escapes from home and all sorts of revolts result from such people in families. People must not be required to become someone else than they are. A perfect allegory of this example is the Tuffy lion from William Wharton's novel "The herd", from which the owner made a domestic cat. It was impossible to hide the true nature of a wild animal - Tuffy finally devoured a man.
Another example of desire is the pursuit of affection. Young people fall in love with people who not only don't deserve their worship but also use them for entertainment. The teenagers in love are so deeply involved in love competitions that it often leads to tragedy. The story of Werter's death from Goethe's novel illustrates the extent to which a man in love is determined and what actions he is capable of.
It is unfortunate to see athletes who cannot do without doping substances on their way to a career. Talented people who want to beat records cheat not only the judges but above all themselves. They prefer to reach for a simpler solution instead of applying themselves to training. This is unfair to those who would achieve success thanks to their hard work and have to swallow the bitterness of the second place by cheating others. An example is the recent silver medal of Justyna Kowalczyk and the gold of the "asthmatic" Marit Bjoergen. However, one must not overestimate one's own capabilities. Two years ago I personally witnessed the death of a marathoner during the XXX Berlin Half-marathon. The 70-year-old man took part in this competition, but his heart could not stand it. It was only at the finish line that the contestants learned why music and applause could not be heard - this is how we honored the memory of the deceased. It is necessary to know one's own capabilities and not to exaggerate in the pursuit of certain dreams.
Faustian man pushes moral norms away from himself and judges the world according to his own desires. He is faced with constant remorse and at the end of his defeat. Let us strive to achieve our goals without harming those who have similar dreams. Let us not make the mistake of Faust - let us not sell our souls to the devils lurking for us today. As we live in the 21st century, let us remember how important it is not only for us but also for other people.
Bibliography: Some of my thoughts + fairy tales for children.
Graphics: https://pixabay.com/pl/directory-drogowskazy-nadziej%C4%99-%C5%BCe-466935/
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