Values

As we've further explored the The Importance of Being Earnest in class these past few days, I cannot help but consider the societal norms and values that are so important to the characters of the play. Throughout the piece, the characters work to define for the readers what it means to be a member of the elite society during the Victorian Era. What does it mean to be a proper man or woman from this era? What does it mean to be a respectable member of society during this time? 

These questions I believe are important, not because of the answers they directly lead to, but because of the further questioning that results from them. I wonder now not how people were expected to act during this era but how human character has evolved over the course of our history. And more importantly, what that tells us about human nature?

The Spartans of the Ancient Greeks valued strength and bravery. The Athenians valued intelligence and creativity. The Medieval Europeans valued loyalty and honor.

The valiant wars that were once considered noble quickly became mass murder. The confidence that was encouraged in some was considered arrogance in others. What was once considered disgraceful clothing later became popular fashion. Values change. Norms change. Humans change. 

Even within the same time period... within the same nation... different individuals value different traits. Gymnasts value flexibility, scientists value intellect, and artists value creativity. What society has valued, what people have valued has consistently changed. In that regard, change has been the only constant for human character. 

I believe that simple idea of the evolving nature of society and its expectations is one of the fundamental pillars of what allows people to truly be free. Life has no rule book. While there are many guidelines for the values and traits that society encourages, there is no rule that dictates the concentrations of traits that make up the human potion. The values we stand by are what shape who we are. It is up to us to decide what values to live by. 

Note - The values I personally find truly important and try to work to instill in my daily life are kindness, curiosity, and humility. Let me know in the replies what your most important values are. I am genuinely interested to see what you guys pursue in order to better yourselves : )

Further reading for anyone interested - I recently read George Santayana's short poem "O World, thou choosest not" - https://www.bartleby.com/236/270.html . In one of the early lines, he writes "it is not wisdom to be only wise" which has led me to think about the importance of balance in the development of values and character. I'm sure most people would agree that wisdom is a beneficial trait but the pursuit of wisdom alone would mean that other values and traits are not being given enough importance, an act Santayana argues is not a very wise thing to do. I think this speaks to not only how our values affect us but how the ratio of those values can shape who we are. Balance is important.