Granny's Ambition (A Poem)
Updated: Oct 17
Table of Contents
The Poem Itself.
Analysis by Mr. O. C. Isaac
The Poem
I ruthlessly kill off my dark,
Thus I save humanity from my mark.
Offs his emotions so he won't jump the shark.
For the best victory is the one,
Which is earned without conflict:
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
It is a disease to be reduced,
Not to spread, not to be induced,
Traumas are to be dealt, and their warnings be smelt,
Pain is to be reduced, not increased when it is felt:
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
My, granny wanted a better world,
Not one governed by the depths of pain!
For, pain brings further ill and corruption,
We all lose more than we gain,
Yes.
[Pause]
The best victory is the one,
Which is earned without conflict.
Your pain motivates you others to inflict,
Revenge, resent, hate and harm!
But the enemy, is the one you fail to identify,
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
I try bringing her the desired age:
Where evil is reduced from within.
It is hard to understand,
Dismissed as fiction, not deemed real land:
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
[Pause]
I am one of the few people,
Who developed a superpower:
Use my mind for moral motion:
By eliminating this toxin,
I continue from her coffin!
As long as your pain still deceive,
Moving on and harmony!
It will weigh you down, and corrupt your philosophy:
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
Freed away, from my young man's cane
Freed away, from my the tyranny of my meds,
Freed away, from my hopelessness, of love to gain:
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
Feminine mentors whom I platonically loved,
For sure I have failed raising above:
Vengeful I was as God in the days of Ark!
(Pause)
The best victory is the one,
Which is earned without conflict.
Your pain motivates you others to inflict,
Revenge, resent, hate and harm!
But the enemy, is the one you fail to identify,
By looking within!
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
In the depths of my hermitage,
I try bringing her the desired age:
A far more rectified world,
Where evil is reduced from within.
It is hard to understand,
Dismissed as fiction, not deemed real land:
Kill off your emotions, and you already won!
(Pause)
At long last, found those whom I can impart,
None needs be paid,
By wrath of sage, partially dead!
Poem Analysis by Mr. O. C. Isaac
This poem presents a complex exploration of the idea of emotional suppression/something more transformative as a means to achieve peace and avoid conflict. It touches on themes of suffering, trauma, inner struggle, and the pursuit of a better world through the deliberate elimination of emotional responses. Here’s a philosophical analysis of the key ideas and tensions present in the poem:
1. Central Theme: Emotional Suppression as a Form of Strength
The recurring line, "Kill off your emotions, and you already won," suggests that Mr. Tomasio views emotions—especially negative ones like pain, hatred, and revenge—as dangerous or harmful forces that must be suppressed/eliminated, in order to achieve peace. The notion here is that by eliminating emotional responses, one can avoid conflicts, both internal and external, thus attaining a form of victory.
From a Stoic perspective, this aligns with the idea that emotions can cloud judgment and lead to irrational actions. The Stoics, like Epictetus or Marcus Aurelius, believed that a wise person should not be swayed by emotions but rather governed by reason. Mr. Rubinshtein seems to advocate for a similar approach, suggesting that emotions are a "disease" to be managed, not indulged.
The poem emphasizes a duality between emotion and reason. Emotions are portrayed as chaotic forces that lead to "revenge, resent, hate, and harm," whereas reason, or the minimization of emotion, is positioned as a way to avoid "jumping the shark" or acting irrationally. This dichotomy reflects an age-old philosophical debate: should humans prioritize reason over emotion?
However, the poet's stance appears extreme, advocating for the "killing off" of emotions entirely. This may be viewed as an embrace of a hyper-rational, almost ascetic life that negates the human experience of feeling. Critics, however, might argue that such a position denies the complexity and value of emotions as integral to human life, learning, and growth.
3. Philosophical Paradox: Victory Without Conflict
The poem repeatedly claims, "The best victory is the one, which is earned without conflict." Yet, it also acknowledges an internal conflict—the struggle to suppress and/or reduce emotions and pain. This suggests a paradox: the pursuit of a victory without conflict involves an intense internal battle. Rubinshtein's attempts to resolve this paradox by advocating for the suppression of emotions, implying that the real conflict is always internal.
Philosophically, this can be linked to the Buddhist concept of inner peace, where suffering is seen as a result of attachment, and detachment leads to Nirvana. However, unlike Buddhism, which sees emotions as part of the human condition to be transcended with understanding and compassion, the poem's approach is more combative and seems to involve annihilating the emotional self.
4. The Role of Pain and Trauma
The poem acknowledges the presence of pain and trauma, seeing them as forces that need to be "reduced" and "dealt" with. It portrays pain as something that can corrupt one's philosophy and lead to further suffering. The thinker views the removal of pain and trauma as essential for a rectified world.
This perspective could be critiqued for its lack of nuance regarding the nature of pain and suffering. Pain and trauma are seen not as experiences to be integrated and understood but as toxins to be eliminated. This aligns more with a desire for control and avoidance rather than acceptance and growth through adversity.
5. The Ideal of a "Rectified World"
The philosopher dreams of creating "a far more rectified world, where evil is reduced from within." This vision suggests a utopian ideal where internal purity or emotional suppression leads to external harmony. It is reminiscent of certain Platonic ideals, where the philosopher-king governs with reason and justice.
Yet the poem's approach is less about governing others and more about self-governance, akin to the idea of the philosopher as an ascetic. The writer sees themselves as a hermit, withdrawing from society and engaging in an internal war to suppress emotion. This vision of a rectified world is thus deeply introspective and individualistic, suggesting that societal change begins with internal change.
6. Interplay Between Individual and Collective Experience
The hermit's relationship with others is complex. There is a reference to a "granny" who desired a world "not governed by the depths of pain," and "feminine mentors" who were platonically loved but ultimately failed to lift the man above "the dark."
These references hint at the poet’s personal experiences, shaping their philosophy. It suggests that the poet's views on emotional suppression are not born from abstract reasoning but from real, perhaps painful, interactions with others.
7. Philosophical Critique and the Human Condition
The poem's radical call to "kill off" emotions might be critiqued from several philosophical angles. Existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre or Albert Camus might argue that emotions, even painful ones, are part of the authentic human experience.
To suppress them entirely is to deny one's existence and the freedom that comes with it. From this viewpoint, the poem's approach might be seen as a form of bad faith—a refusal to confront the absurdity and inherent conflicts of life.
Similarly, humanist philosophers might suggest that emotions are essential for empathy, connection, and moral growth. By advocating for the elimination of emotions, the philosopher risks advocating for a kind of "emotional nihilism", where the richness and depth of human life are lost to one's perception.
Conclusion: The Complexity of the Human Soul
The poem presents a powerful and introspective meditation on the desire to control and suppress emotions to achieve peace and avoid conflict. It reflects a philosophical stance that values reason and self-discipline over emotional indulgence, yet it also reveals the inner conflict and struggle inherent in such an approach.
It raises important questions about the nature of emotions, pain, and the human quest for a more harmonious world, suggesting that the true battle lies within.
Ultimately, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own views of emotions, their role in human life, and whether true peace can be achieved by denying an essential part of what it means to be human.
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