Preview

Lautreamont: The Morality Of Evil

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
382 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Lautreamont: The Morality Of Evil
Evilness by definition is wrongdoing described as being harmful, cruel, immoral, crime, and much more, so the question then remains as to how something evil it can also be good. Lautreamont constantly reflects on the idea that the morality of evil and how that can lead to suffering is both subjective and objective, which is ambiguous. What is considered a morally wrong action or value may to another be accepted or appreciated. In fact, it appears to be more of a matter of perspective on how the evilness is causing suffering or a relief from suffering to each individual involved. For instance, Maldoror could be considered evil when he decides to kill the worm that preaches about the morality of killing Prostitution, but at the same time

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Archetypes In Beowulf

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Although good and evil may exist in ways that they aren’t typical archetypes, they are there nonetheless. In Beowulf, good and evil are the driving factors in how the story progresses. Without evil, there would not be a chance for Beowulf to be good. Grendel…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I will know defend the claim that evil is a degree of wrong, as well as how it isn’t qualitatively distinct. Eve Garrard argues that evil is the intent to create harm as well as how silence plays a role in this. However, philosopher Luke Russell, discusses how, “Garrard, refuses to modify her account by adding the condition that evil actions must be harmful” (). Russell later states that extreme harm doesn’t have to be a contributor of evil. In a sense, it has been there but it not always is. This supports my initial argument since it can be compared to how evil is an extent of wrong, as well as how a harm does not need to be a contributor of wrong. An example of this can be seen in certain religious groups, such as the Ancient Civilizations…

    • 283 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Goodness is self-righteous: evil is purposeful. Seems rather counterintuitive doesn’t it? But what truly is good and what truly is evil, or are the two even separate entities to begin with? After all, good and evil is all hinged upon perspective, viewpoint is the key. Can something so obscured by opinions really be quantified? So where do monsters fall then? Who are the monsters? Why is our society obsessed with such monsters both in reality and fiction tales? The answer is rather simple: since we cannot define what good and evil is and we presume monsters fall into the spectrum of evil, we write about them, mold them into what we believe they should be to fulfill our desire for a definitive ideal of good and…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Evil people do evil things: that statement seems simple enough. However, the motives behind evil acts tend to be more complex than that simplistic thought. Although some may believe that any dishonesty is evil, people are not inherently evil, and acts that may be considered evil are not deliberate. More likely, they occur because of the denial of private responsibility through the pursuit of self-gain.…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Theme Of Evil In Beowulf

    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Evil has no definitive interpretation; it is a matter of morals and the mindset of the being. It depends on the person to define such an ambiguous idea, some have faith in God(s), others look to dictionary definitions. Though based on Grendel’s intelligence and his repeatedly disgusting acts, he is evil. He is an astute being that can comprehend what kind of pain he creates by his ways, and he has no remorse for anything. Grendel’s actions are revolting, from ruining Wealhtheow, to killing harmless beings, to many spouts of unprovoked violence.…

    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The abstract concept of evil has vastly transformed throughout human history, ranging for the supernatural and mystical to the very humans amongst whom we live. In modern times, evil has become an entirely ambiguous term. Who is evil? What is evil? Men like Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein have been garnered with the term ‘evil' for their atrocities against fellow humans. Now it seems evil has a solely human significance; when a person violates the individual rights of others on a massive scale, he/she is evil. In Shakespeare's time – the Elizabethan era – evil had a similar, but somewhat altered connotation in the human mind. Evil was an entity that violated the English Christian monarchial tradition. Therefore, a man such as Claudius, from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, a cold-blooded murderer and a ruthless manipulator, who uses "rank" deeds to usurp the thrown is in direct violation with the Elizabethan societal norms, and hence he is an evil character.…

    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Stanley Benn discussed several types of wickedness in his essay Wickedness. Malignant wickedness strives for evil simply because it is evil; self-centered wickedness promotes a person's self interest at the expense of others; conscientious wickedness pursues certain values ruthlessly without proper consideration of other merited values. Benn's opinion differs from Socrates on the topic of malignant evil. Benn regards malignant evil as an innate trait that could not be reformed, while all other types of evil could be cured through proper education and more rationality. Each type of evil mentioned earlier has its representative in the story of Billy Budd. Claggert bears malice for Billy for the sake of evil and his natural tendency to detest the good; Squeak ignores the importance of goodness, justice, and honesty in his blind pursuit of self-interest; Captin Vere falls victim to his stubborn upholding of the martial laws while fairness and conscience are sacrificed at their expense. The flood of pure evil seeks to overflow the good. Good is defenseless because good is unaware of the danger from the purest form of evil. Men in between the extreme ends of the good-evil scale have to protect the good in order to preserve it. Both Squeak and Captain Vere could have prevented the tragedy of Billy Budd, but they failed to. They were overridden with their own forms of evil, so they did nothing. Evil too often triumphs over good because too many individuals do nothing to help the good.…

    • 1518 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth and Grendel

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Although the definitions of evil vary, as well as its motives and causes, one who possesses characteristics of profound immorality, sinfulness, and corruption could be described as an evil individual. Evil is typically perceived as the dualistic opposite of good. While many characters in literature throughout history are conceived as evil, two distinct characters stand out from the rest; Macbeth in Shakespeare’s definitive tale Macbeth and Grendel in the legendary masterpiece Beowulf. These two literary figures both exemplify traits of gullible ambition, avaricious guilt, and true wickedness. The two pieces of literature depict the terrible effects that these traits, as well as many others, can have on an individual who lacks strength of character.…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Who determines what is right or wrong? Who determines what is evil and what is not? In John Gardner’s Grendel, the main character wonders if he is truly evil and the purpose for his existence. He starts as a poor, lonely creature, but after an encounter with a dragon, his mindset changes. He experiments with different philosophies in order to define his existence. Consequently, he becomes an intolerably evil creature that shows no remorse for his actions. He intentionally deceives the Danish people, disrespects others, and kills for sport. Grendel is evil according to the Old and New Testament teachings of the Bible.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Is Grendel Evil?

    • 2299 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Ethics is a wide field of philosophical study to which the core of every question within falls to one side of a blurred line. On the right, is good; the value which is popularly believed to be the correct alignment for which a person should live their life according to. On the left, is evil; that which is the cause of most human misery, and prevents peace on earth. In John Gardner's book Grendel, the retelling of the ages old story Beowulf, further blurs the line between good and evil. Circumstance and perhaps a confused view of reality allow the monster, Grendel, to conceivably defend his evil beliefs. In order to better understand evil, using Grendel as a guide, I intend to attempt to justify it.…

    • 2299 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The topic of evil is discussed in multiple ways within the stories of Beowulf, Paradise Lost, Lord of the Flies, and “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. These writers’ opinions on evil vary. Evil is portrayed in many different ways. Is evil a choice that is made by an individual? Or is it merely a concept that humans have no control over? Although these writers may disagree on who will be defeated in the battle between good and evil and whether evil lives within every man, they agree on the concept that evil always brings negative consequences.…

    • 881 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    American Psycho

    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The general concept of evil is when you are doing a bad thing. It can be a bad thing against other human beings, your self or the world. But just because you’re doing a bad thing doesn’t mean it isn’t a good thing either. Drinking alcohol is a bad thing for your body and brain because its…

    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Evil is the quality of being morally bad or causing harm, misfortune, suffering, or destruction" (Encarta). "In literature, evil often triumphs but never conquers." The particular perspective of this statement can be applied to two works of literature that I have read. In the novel Night, by Elie Wiesel, evil is displayed by the Nazi's but never fully conquers because the Jewish people are set free. In the novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, Molly displays evil when she tries to destroy the windmill and the farm. The animals were able to work together and re-build the windmill and tried not to let Molly's actions get in their way. Characters may experience various levels of evil in many different ways throughout a novel.…

    • 531 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Pardoner's Tale

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the narrative poem "Pardoner's Tale" the author Geoffrey Chaucer warns his audience the dangers of evil, greed, and desire. The short excerpt from the story above is true because all evil actions committed by criminals are done because of avarice or desire for something better than what they have. A great example of evil can be read in the epic tale of "Beowulf". The monstrous being Grendel, who plays one of the evil characters in the story, kills and feast upon the blood of humans because he has a desire to be fully human. In the Pardoner's Tale Chaucer's three main characters can fall under the category of evil because they all have the desire of greed and are willing to kill each other for money. Avaricious is defined as "immoderately desirous of wealth or gain; greedy." (American Heritage Dictionary) In Chaucer's tale the three main characters all have avarice or a desire for a better life. The question is what exactly makes these characters evil? What actions have they done that guarantee that their souls are condemned? Well through careful analyzation the answer can be found easily.…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tale of Two Cities

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Evil actions can be done for the greater good but it does not always mean it’s justifiable. When Adolph Hitler came into power in WWII he did it because he wanted Germany to succeed. He admired Germany but when he started mass killing people he crossed the line of acceptable and unjust. It was also not okay in the Iraq war for soldiers to torture and humiliate prisoners either. It was unjust and evil. In the book Tale of Two Cities by Charles dickens, the characters Madam Defarge, Gaspard and the Marquis made evil actions just like these people. Evil intentions are not always for the greater good they can be for the need to get revenge.…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays