What is Winning? -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 14:59:34 04/02/08 Wed
Author: Caitlin
Subject: What is Winning?

Considering the conversation that we had in class about the self-sacrifice and generosity of Nathan and Mithridanes, I began to think about the nature of "winning". I concluded that winning would be the conclusion of the imitative rivalry. This is the nature of imitative desire, is it not? The model must be there for the subject to imitate their desired object. If the object is not there, they rival each other for prestige. I suppose what I'm saying is that one person always has to come out on top. Someone has to WIN. This goes with what was said in class today about the uncomfortable notion of possible perpetual gratuitous imitation between Nathan and Mithridanes.

Taken in the situation of Nathan and Mithridanes, who would YOU say is the winner and what does this mean for the story?

For me, the winner is Nathan because Mithridanes leaves knowing that Nathan's "liberality could never be surpassed" (718). If Nathan wins then Mithridanes has two choices, he could find another model, or he could continue to imitate Nathan - a situation that I found very similar in Ovid's "Narcissus and Echo" myth when Narcissus acknowledges the impossibility of being separated from his image so that he might achieve it.

Since the end of the story is not included, the decision is left open. However, I tend to think that Mithridanes chooses a different model. but that's just me.

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Replies:

Re: What is Winning? -- Katelyn R., 17:56:11 04/05/08 Sat
I think Conan has something to say about this... -- JPJ II, 19:15:38 04/06/08 Sun