As the עמל made his pitiful exit out of the Kohelet, the חכם made his bold entrance. The חכם didn't waste much time in starting to push the other three characters down. From what he says to each of the characters, we can most definitely tell that he is a realist.
"You are an IDIOT," says the חכם to the נהנה. The חכם tells the נהנה that it is better to be patient than be naughty. He calls him a fool because he doesn't understand what happens to him from all the partying. "Hello," says the חכם, "You must understand the world to be happy!" The חכם calls the נהנה's philosophy an illusion because he cannot ignore death, and actions impact your reputation. The חכם is basically telling the נהנה that he is not accepting and recognizing reality and because of that, he is flawed.
Next, the חכם responds to the עמל even though he has made his exit. Personally, I think that what he says to the עמל is the only one that makes sense and the only time he has a good point. He tells the עמל, "you are so angry!" He tells him that it is not good to live life so angrily, and if you acquire חכמה, then you will be set for life. The עמל has trouble understanding that what G-d gave us, is life. The חכם is always trying to get the עמל to realize that that is life and we cannot change what G-d gave us, so stop being angry. The עמל's constant desire for control leads to nothing but an angry life.
Lastly, the חכם responds to the יראי אלוקים. He is trying to get the יראי אלוקים to realize that everyone sins in life and that he is being too righteous, that it's almost selfish. At this point we haven't heard what the יראי אלוקים thinks is hevel in life, so I think that we can say that thus far, he is being a little too righteous.
From what I have read about the חכם so far, I see that he is not only a realist, but a meddler. He seems to be the one is meddling the most into the other's views and trying to change them. When there have been other responses to each other before this, it was mostly a statement of opinion, not telling them that they must change and be wise. Thus starts the cat fight between the characters...DUH DUH DUHHHHH!
Sophie,
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective. I liked one of your points that you mentioned, that the Amal has trouble understanding that what G-d gave us is life. This is a fantastic response the Chacham gave to the Amal. The Amal is so focused on death, or not even being born, that he fails to realize that G-d put us on this world for a purpose. Failing to recognize that he could not achieve everything perfectly led him to be angry. However, G-d does not want us to change the entire world. We have our own potential, something we have to focus on accomplishing.
Another thing that specifically the עמל didn't quite understand was the fact that you are not supposed to be perfect. The עמל dumped all off his efforts because he didn't think it was worthwhile if he didn't achieve perfection. חכם is trying to explain to him that G0d didn't make this world for people to be perfect. You cannot be perfect, so you should make the best in the situation at hand.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about the cat fight. But why do you have to call my man the חכם a meddler, huh? Everybody else responded to other people's philosophies. It's what they do. It just so happens that the חכם has some pretty good critiques for everybody. Probably because he's so much smarter than them.
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