I thought about how we talked about "enjoying self-suffering" in class today and wondered why people would actually want to suffer. One reason is to receive more love and attention. "Raskolnikov said nothing and made no resistance though he felt quite strong enough to sit up on the sofa without support and could not merely have held a cup or a spoon, but even perhaps could have walked about." chap. 3. Oftentimes people pretend to be suffering more than they actually are and we look down on them for this, but it could be that they feel the need to be loved more than they are. Suffering can bring you instant popularity and love, though it may not always be real.
Another reason people want to suffer is because their religion says that it is good. Nikolay, for example, believes that suffering is a way to purification and a way to access love. For this reason, some people intentionally inflict suffering upon themselves. I do not believe this to that extent, but I do believe that if we believe in Jesus, he states that we will undergo suffering. Without intentionally causing ourselves to suffer, Paul states that when the suffering comes, we should rejoice in it because God is getting the glory.
PS commented on Anna Rhodes "Self-Love?"
I like this.
ReplyDeleteFor your first thought, what I have found is that when it is a fake suffering, it is a fake love that is received.
We learned last year(as you will next year) about suffering into truth. That is essentially where a lesson is learned from some form of suffering. The same thing would apply here - if the suffering isn't real, then the lesson won't be either.
Referring to your comment on the quote from Chapter 3 of Part 2, I agree. Raskolnikov definitely used his illness and suffering to his advantage. He pretended to be more ill than he actually was in order to receive more attention and also so he could determine what was going on. I think sometimes people use their suffering to manipulate others, either by making them feel guilty, or by abusing their compassion. Raskolnikov enjoyed the extra attention given to him (such as the down pillows and new clothes) but he felt stifled by the extra company- he did not enjoy that kind of attention.
ReplyDeleteI really hate to be sick. If I am honest with myself, though, I do get a little joy out of sickness and pain just because of all of the attention. I get to complain and have everyone feel sorry for me and give me attention, which I enjoy. On the other hand, I get irritated when I know someone is acting like life is terrible when I know they are only trying to use it for their own advantage. Hypocritical, I know, but I think this could possibly be true for most people.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the attention of being sick as much as the next person. I like having someone at my beck and call. What if we though suffered and yet no one ever knew about it? What if we secretly held in all the pain and suffering that we have been inflicted with? Would that be ok? Let's change the thinking though to what if we did something really nice for someone. Would you want everyone to know then? Is it the suffering that is bad or the attention you don't deserve? Ponder that.
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