I think Conan has something to say about this... -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 19:15:38 04/06/08 Sun
Author: JPJ II
Subject: I think Conan has something to say about this...
In reply to: Caitlin 's message, "What is Winning?" on 14:59:34 04/02/08 Wed

Like many issues in life, I think a look at the words of Conan the Barbarian could be insightful. When asked the same question (what is winning?), many of you will remember, Conan replied "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women."

That probably doesn't work for us.

Anyway, I'm not really sure what so say, because the text is a bit ambiguous on the issue. There is the ending, which you have pointed out. But there is also the problem of defining winning itself within the context of metaphysical mimetic rivalry. We know that the Imitator can't really ever "win" because, should he achieve his goal, he will find it an empty victory as no actual happiness lies at the end of that rivalry. As far as the rivalry goes, I don't know that there would be a way to "win" because killing the other person would, in this context, makes you lose the "do good" game. Not saying this is a bad game, just saying that you can't win by killing anybody (sorry Conan). The nature of their rivalry lends itself to a perpetual rivalry. This feels unsettling because its too open ended. Now, should one of them be an allegorical God figure whose liberality could never be surpassed" (718) there is a some measure of closure as their relationship as moved from rivalry (can't be God) to imitative and reciprocal.

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