Among the most popular songs by Josh Turner is… Completely
irrational?! In some ways one could say so. In his song, “I Wouldn’t Be a Man”
Josh Turner describes the feelings that he has about a woman who, he claims, he
couldn’t ever “resist.” Both Josh Turner and Euripides had a similar story to
tell in regards to a force that seems to be greater than reason itself. Josh
Turner calls it love but, just like Euripiedes, focus’ on the physical
attratraction between the sexes. Both authors of their trade recognize that to
be irrational from time to time makes us rational (it’s called being human).
In the Euripides’ Bakkhai, the women are portrayed as those
who are irrational or even “wild.” This includes their preferred location of
irrationality; the wilderness. These women were found believing in a God who “must
be punished for [his] evil sophistries” according to Pentheus. In essense, Pentheus is a man who represents rational thinking and does not believe in this
God named Dynioses. We are able to see the contrast between men and woman as
well as the roles they play. Whether an individual is considered irrational
(such as Agaues) or rational (such as Pentheus) both sexes and both classifications
have irrational characteristics.
In regards to how Pentheus is irrational I cannot state it better
than Katie Johnson who, in her blog said, “His downfall, therefore, is not
recognizing irrationality as a hugely powerful force that controls a bit of
everyone’s life.”
From this we learn the rationale behind Euripides’ play
script. It also demonstrates incredibly well that to be irrational one must
also be rational. In other words, to be rational requires a level of
irrationality. To claim that you are rational yet also claim that you are not
irrational from time to time is completely irrational (a complete paradox). What
I find so incredible is that this was the most rational part of his script.
In further considering, I came to more fully recognize how “irrational”
it is to believe in God’s. Ultimately, believing in God allows one to put into
perspective some of the “irrational” things in this world. Consider the
doctrine of “the fall” of Adam. One could suggest that this doctrine puts into
context why man (the natural man) is so irrational as well as teaching the
importance of controlling those irrational behaviors. I have come to understand
that through religion itself we are able to also deal with irrational behavior whether
we believe in it or not.
Of course what we see as irrational today may seem totally rational in the future and vice versa. In the past cell phones would have seem like an irrational invention and yet, here we are. There was also a time in history where slavery was consider rational; but anyone who thinks so now would be called irrational.
ReplyDeleteGood point Mark. The whole idea of religion gives answers to the irrational. I also really loved the use of the "natural man" I was thinking about the scripture too as I read this play. I feel the scriptures do a really good job of explaining it. We are mortals with natural, even instinctive tendancies. God doesn't deny that we have these tendancies, but he does ask us to put them off. If we gave in to all of our natural urges we would be little better than wild animals. As children of God and heirs to his kingdom we have the choice to put off the natural man and become saints by using the atonement of Christ. I really love that! The atonement makes all the difference, without it we could never master our natural man.
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