Sunday, August 3, 2008

Irony or Karma

I watched 'Libertine' last night. Basically it tells of John Wilmot, a friend of King Charles II, a 'libertine' and the 2nd Earl of Rochester. A libertine, as the dictionary defines it is someone who lacks restraint. But from the 17th to the 19th century it gained popularity as a way of life as has been depicted in a lot of movies including the one I'm talking about. So this guy is a complete cynic who isn't moved by anything. His passions, funnily enough, are theatre, writing and wine. What I don't understand is how people can write without being moved... for me... I find it very difficult to write unless I'm moved! But obviously he did and really well... literary greats (I'll confess I haven't read any of them but I hear they're called literary giants) like Voltaire, Goethe and even Tennyson called him a genuis (source good ol' wikipedia). A particular scence in the movie struck me... it beautifully captured just about how unmoved he could get...he's with a woman and in the middle of it, looks at the ceiling and emotionlessly coins a few awesome sounding verses which tell of how he lay there, unmoved, like a lump!
But this same John Wilmot could move people!!! The king kept asking him to petition on his behalf to solicit funds since he felt Wilmot was influential and could move the masses!
Later on while watching a first-time actress on stage he falls in love with her! She on the other hand wants to carve a name for herself in the world of theatre and leave behind a legacy and in being true to herself and her art doesn't veer from her goal. Of course she was his lover but had no qualms about being his wife.
What struck me about life in general were two things and they overwhelmed me for a while:
1. How people who're unmoved themselves have the ability to move people... maybe lack of emotion gives them heightened objectivity that allows them to persuade people and also the fact that they probably don't care enough to persuade people... the same 'play hard to get syndrome' at work here?
2. Irony or is it karma that John Wilmot who had all the women swooning with his mere touch falls in love and is spurned?
This happens so often in life... you're scared of something and keep avoiding it until you finally overcome your fear.... do it... and guess what IT happens!!! maybe the reason you have a fear of it is coz that fears been put there as an aid to survival!

Just a passing thought... I'm pretty sure I'll have a contra view on this tomorrow!!! :)

2 comments:

Bhavisha said...

maybe karma is realization of irony... if the ironical thing doesn't kill you that is!

Natasha K said...

i think astute perception of the human condition and the talent to express it creates great writers. not necessarily their capacity to experience it themselves.