Re: Comfort in Mimetic Theory -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 13:46:36 04/03/08 Thu
Author: CS Holden
Subject: Re: Comfort in Mimetic Theory
In reply to: Caitlin 's message, "Comfort in Mimetic Theory" on 20:01:21 03/30/08 Sun

You're right about the distinction between being content and being comfortable. Both things are temporary states of being, but one (content) results when a person consciously suppresses desire or eliminates it, whereas the other (comfort) results when someone has pursued a desire and achieved it.

I guess that's the rub with desired objects: their worth really does tend to go away once you attain them. Even in rivalries, as we've seen, the steps one takes toward attaining a desired object can degrade that object. I'm thinking specifically of the amorous lover who challenges his rival to a duel and thus disgusts the woman he seeks. Or in the case of Long Day's Journey into Night, we can see the rivalry between father and son over the mother increases the pressure on her and allows her to go slowly mad.

The only thing for it, in terms of mimetic desire, is to desire according to a model who desires nothing. Easier said than done.

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