Charles Hunter Ancient Wisdom & Modern Love Dialogue 3 10-08-10
True Nature of Love Simon and Peter are attending the opera Tristan & Isolde and Act II has just finished. Peter is speaking from the views of Pausanious’ speech and Simon is speaking from the views of Eryisxmchams’ speech in Plato’s Symposium.
Simon:
That was a very exciting Act! Wouldn’t you agree Peter?
Peter:
Yes! It was much more exciting than the first.
Simon: In my opinion, the most important aspect of act II was the way in which the love that Tristan and Isolde shared is described and represented, in words and actions, as well as subtle expressions and melodic motifs. Peter:
I actually found it to be one of the weakest parts of the act.
Simon: I’d be interested to see how you could possibly come to the conclusion that Wagner’s portrayal of love in Act II is inaccurate and also a weakness of the act. Peter: I think that the inspiration for Tristan and Isolde’s love is unworthy; their love is based on attraction and the effects of a magical love potion. Also, keeping their love a secret and hidden from the “daylight world” lowers the worthiness of their love even more, in fact, I believe it is more honorable to love openly than in secret. Simon: Ok, ok, ok I will admit the role the love potion plays in the story as having a negative effect, but I do not see how you can reason Tristan and Isolde’s love unworthy? All love has worth! In my opinion love is the thing most worth pursuing. Perhaps their initial interest is based on a physical attraction, but the lovers mention several times what they see when looking into each other’s eyes and the effect that this has on them. And even if their initial interest were solely based on physical attractiveness, how is that an unworthy pursuit? Should you not find the woman or man you love to be physically attractive? Peter: I’m not saying that there is a problem with initial interest starting from the physical attractiveness of a potential lover. However, Tristan and Isolde’s love does not extend past a physical nature. Simon: So are you suggesting that for love to be worthy, it must be more than merely physical, or are you saying that worthy love cannot have any physical foundation at all? Peter: Actually, it is a little bit of both. An initial attraction can have a physical foundation, but, love in its truest form, spiritual and soul-oriented, bodily love is somewhat demeaning to the perfect image of love. Love, as it was meant to be, is like the relationship in
which each person seeks to better themselves and their beloved. A good example of this type of relationship is one between a student and mentor in the educational setting. The mentor promotes the growth of the student by passing on their knowledge while the student betters themselves by learning from the mentor. Simon:
What you’ve done is take ‘love’ out of love.
Peter:
How would you describe love, Simon?
Simon: I believe love is the feeling achieved from reaching the ideal form of existence as a man or woman, namely to be with another human being and share in a coupled life. Neither Tristan nor Isolde could be complete without the other and it is in their recognition of this fact which proves their love to be true and worthy. Peter: So, by ‘coupled existence’, I suppose you are also including sexual union in your definition of what love truly is? Simon: A pure and honest love does indeed include sexual union. However, when I talked about the erotic union of a couple, while this does include sexual union, it is by no means strictly limited to it. Erotic love in a perfect couple has many layers. Erotic union is, ultimately, the feeling of completeness when you’re with the one you love that you cannot achieve in any other way. Peter: Maybe I’m just missing something, but it seems like your attempts to describe what love is keeps heading in circles. Simon: That’s the mark of true love – it can’t be accurately described with words. Have you never felt something that you knew you could never accurately describe with mere words. Peter: You know, I’m actually starting to see your point. What makes love so powerful is that you could never describe it accurately. Simon: Exactly, look at Tristan and Isolde. When they are reunited, it is obvious that they are both ecstatic about being together again, but they fumble around with awkward phrases and questions to try to express what they are feeling to each other. But a love like they have could never be put into words, which is one reason why the opera is so powerful; what we cannot distinguish from their words, we identify from their excited expressions, actions, and the jubilant music which accompanies the scenes they are together. Peter: That really makes a lot of sense, Simon. What cannot be described through words alone can be more accurately described, though not in perfect detail, by actions, expressions, and music. And because all of these other details add to the expression of love between Tristan and Isolde, we receive a more accurate portrayal of love than we often see in our own experience of everyday life. Simon:
Exactly! I could not have said it better myself.
Peter: However, I am not entirely willing to surrender my definition of love in favor of your “all love is worthy� definition. Simon: It is entirely possible that both of our definitions for love are right in one way or another, but, as we have now both concluded, we are incapable of describing what love truly is through words. I think it is definitely possible that love is both a spiritual and physical relationship between people who seek to better the person they love at no personal gain to themselves and an expression of the wholeness we feel when we reach our ideal coupled existence.