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Guilt vs. Innocence
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Guilt vs. Innocence |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
Innocence is powerless, guilt is power. Quite a controversial statement but true nonetheless. There is nothing about a state of innocence that motivates as much as guilt. For those that doubt, read on. Guilt motivates by goading an individual into any action that will alleviate that guilt. A spouse that is guilty of infidelity and feels that guilt will work to expiate that guilt, bear in mind I speak of guilt not shame. Shame is just as powerless as innocence. In fact, guilt will goad us into acts we would not contemplate otherwise. Anything from a devoutly religious person going to confession to have their sins forgiven to a criminal walking past the scene of their crime. Granted that guilt may motivate an individual to further atrocity or crime, but what is motivated is not the focus of this essay. Romance feeds off of guilt, becoming stronger with each moment that the guilt remains. Women have for centuries played out a lover's or spouse's guilt to recapture romance for a moment. How many bouquets of flowers have found their way into a woman's hands on the heels of guilt? I mentioned above that there is a difference between guilt and shame so I believe an explanation of that difference is in order. Keep in mind that the two will be classed as guilt in the remainder of this essay. Shame and guilt come from the same sources and are indeed the same thing taken to different extremes. Shame can be debilitating. It can prevent any action other than a desperate scramble to hide the offending behavior or it can lead to some truly vile behaviors. Shame leads to an attempt to cover up one's actions while guilt means taking responsibility for your actions and working to either correct them or to expiate the guilt in your own mind at least. This can mean positive things such as turning one's self in for a crime or seeking treatment for domestic abuse or even not drinking alcohol. On the other hand, negative things such as committing the same crime again or physical violence or self-mutilation could result. An example of good results would be John Walsh's crusade to put criminals behind bars for the kidnapping and death of his son Adam. His guilt drove him to it. An example of the negative would be the man in Jaffrey, NH. who placed his child in the oven after beating her to death, in an attempt to prevent his shame and guilt from being exposed. The individual responses to guilt may vary in degree from one end to the other but the mechanism is the same; something must be done to expiate the guilt in a manner consistent with the psyche of the individual. Even the most well balanced of individuals can be pushed beyond the limits of sanity by shame and subsequent guilt. Now that, is truly powerful. Guilt and shame eat at the soul, gnawing with the frenzy of rabid rats. There are those that seek out guilt deliberately as a motivator, even inventing reasons within their own minds solely to generate guilt along with the motivation and power it provides. Interestingly, most of these are artists of one kind or another. In the case of art, any extreme emotion becomes not only motivation but inspiration as well. With that aside out of the way, let's continue. Innocence now is a different thing altogether. Let us define innocence as the lack of guilt. But wait, that doesn't work for those that feel no remorse such as the insane or psychotic. Would we be able to say that intent then is a prerequisite of guilt? Meaning that an innocent person that unknowingly commits a crime or sin remains innocent? No, categorically not. If they are told of their transgressions and are truly good, they will feel guilty. If they never know of it then they will remain in a state of innocence. What does innocence motivate? Think about that for a moment. I do not mean love or concern. In a recent conversation I asked this same question and received the same answer as my own from my friend (giving you a plug Christopher). "We long, (since that innocence is lost to us) for days of innocence, and see it as something precious. It could inspire one to work on maintaining that innocence. So, I guess, seen that way, innocence could motivate itself." Indeed I do agree that guilt, evil, and the Dark are always attracted to the innocence, some to help and some to harm it. The corruption of innocence is the main goal of predators but I digress. Innocence influences but does not empower the one feeling it. Innocence can only motivate the guilty to an even greater guilt, which IS empowering. With any essay, there must be a logical progression from opening statement to closing. I believe that has been well shown in this piece. Guilt motivates, empowers, and inspires. Innocence can only motivate the guilty to greater guilt and a greater capacity to act on that guilt. In and of itself, innocence is powerless. ©1999 DreamEvil ------------------ Now and forever my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© [This message has been edited by DreamEvil (edited 09-28-1999).] |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Well now, whatever made you say that???? Rock on brother! Exactly. Shame can be one of the greatest motivators, and like your example of the father placing his child in the oven, can be used as a cover for guilt, ironicaly, producing more guilt. And if I don't miss my guess, those who disagree with the tenants you propose here are likely canidates of the very guilt/shame you speak of. (Which btw, nicely done job of explaining, seperating and joining the two concepts.) NO ONE is exempt. If you are capable of reasoned thought, you have experienced guilt in some form or another. Period/fullstop! I see this as the well thought essay it is, not foretelling doom, but helping us to understand ourselves better. And I am very interested, (as always when it comes to guilt,) to hear other's opinions on it. Awesome dream, but then again you know I'm quite partial to this subject!  |
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Dragoness Senior Member
since 1999-08-07
Posts 513 |
Well written....I need to think on this one for a while. ------------------ Set you heart free and your mind will follow. |
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johnt300 Member
since 1999-09-12
Posts 214san diego, ca. |
Excellent. A good example of guilt, that motivates, empowers, and inspires, like an endless cycle, would be alcoholism. Something that has certainly reached into the artists community, but also far beyond. Very well written. I know how hard it is to get a good philosophical point across throught the written word. Most great philosophers no, too, and they usually never learned to write very well at all. Your work I could follow, thought, and very interesting it was. Tyson |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
In the words of Steven R. Donaldson, "I'd sell my soul for Guilt!" great job, dream. ------------------ Michael Anderson Loneliness isn't in being alone; Loneliness is alone in being. |
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Dragoness Senior Member
since 1999-08-07
Posts 513 |
OK I warned you I was thinking on this! Yes guilt is powerful and compared to it innocence is weak, but I think you confuse guilt with passion. Without passion there is no reason for guilt. Let me explain. I'm not speaking of sexual passion although there is that aspect to it, but rather the passion that comes from doing something wholeheartedly. Most serial killers will describe the "rush" the 'thrill" they feel when the commit their crimes. One of the motivating factors for the repeating of crime. Church followers confess, not all out of guilt but out of their passion for God and the church. They want to embrace God wholeheartedly. Any act that can produce guilt has been committed as an act of passion. The person feels strongly for what they've done, at the time the guilt producing action was committed. It isn't until after the fact that the guilt comes. I think this, more so than guilt is a powerful emotion. Once again you have me on my soap- box. Thank-You brother of my heart! ------------------ Set you heart free and your mind will follow. |
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Nicole Senior Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 1835Florida |
Very valid argument! I think Dragoness hit on an interesting take as well, although..some people, such as myself experience guilt regularly...but not necessarily due to passion. For instance: I did not to my laundry this weekend; therefore, I feel guilty. Truly! Do I thrive on guilt? Quite possibly! Does it drive me to better myself, or rather try to reach what kind of a person I *think* I should be? Probably. Now, I know you think...laundry isn't all that bad a thing to let slip. Laundry in itself really isn't, but you'd be amazed at where my mind can take that one concept. I'm a single mom, and I feel guilty cause I didn't get all my daughter's clothes clean..bad mom bad mom..which leads me to think that there are other things I *should* do to be a better mom. And on and on it goes. Of course not everyone is as lacking in marbles as I am either!  Well stated DE! |
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