Eris, the Greek personification of discord, survives into the modern world. Not only survives, but is alive and well and wreaking her havoc along highways and byways and high school support groups. Why do some have a pathetic, desperate craving for dissension?
According to tales of old, Eris when barred from a wedding due to her meddling ways, crashed the party and tossed out the apple of discord. The eventual result was the Trojan war. How may apples are still being tossed by suburban Enis’? Bushels full it appears.
Not only does Eris, bring her evils to the party, she brings along her children, the personifications of Quarrels, Lies, Disputes, False Oaths, Pain & Sorrow, Fighting, Battles, Famine, Forgetfulness, Labor, Lawlesness, Ruin, Manslaughter and Murder.
Oh, Eris you favorite of evil, you thrive today. Your spirit infests schools, boardrooms, churches and anywhere people capitulate to the necesitude of creating drama for their own twisted purposes.
I’m beginning to believe one of the greatest blessings art can bring into our lives is the satiation of the ugly human desire for drama. When confronted with a modern Eris, I want to tell them to go read a book, watch a movie or even a soap opera. To quench their requisite desire to embody that woeful goddess by observing others tossing their apples of strife into parties fictional. Fictional beings who cannot be hurt by the results, for though they may live in pages of books or TV screens, the drama of their lives end with the closing chapter or scrolling of credits.
No comments:
Post a Comment