The human condition is a powerful force of nature. Man’s will to define himself has conflicted humanity, both societal and individual, since the dawn of creation. Our inner sanctum of consciousness surges around our intrinsic complexities. In literature, revelation often spawns from our follies. It is within these errors, man’s true nature is exposed. A vibrant notion of human condition can be seen through the literary works “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway. The theme both works possess can directly correlate with the human condition portrayed in the film “Seven Pounds” starring Will Smith.
One of the most defining factors of a piece which harnesses human condition is the incorporation of human flaw. Perfection is a myth. Anything that we do as humans has a flaw within it. It is in our nature. The main conflict in “The Birthmark” relies around a small imperfection upon a woman’s cheek. Aylmer struggles to accept this minor imperfection and believes that alteration would cure the grief he has towards his wife. The obsession he harbors for perfection proves to be his ultimate flaw. “My peerless bride, it is successful! You are perfect” (Hawthorne 231). His bold attempt to rectify an imperfection grants his gratification, but claims his prize. The tragedy of his flaw leads to the demise of his wife.
Gratification within human flaw is an aspect of the human condition which should not be overlooked. Within the film “Seven Pounds”, we experience the story of a successful man. Ben Thomas is honest and caring. Whilst traveling in a car with his wife, the sudden urge to answer his cell phone proves to be overbearing. The obsession with his career became his ultimate flaw. Upon answering the phone he is distracted and veers into oncoming traffic, causing an accident. His wife is killed along with a family of six. He is the lone survivor of an accident he caused. His life, his sorrow, his grief, consumes his inner being. Loneliness, depression, guilt, burns deep within his soul. He realizes his flaw has caused irreparable harm. “I did something really bad once and I’m never gonna be the same” (Ben, Seven Pounds). The swiftness of his fate shocks him to a point of despair. “In seven days, God created the world. And in seven seconds, I shattered mine” (Ben Thomas, Seven Pounds). The pure emotion within his remorse is the essence of human condition. We see exactly how a person would react in the given circumstance. Sadness is arguably man’s most powerful emotion. It can consume you past a point of no return. “I think about dying every day” (Ben, Seven Pounds). In the end, Ben chooses to rectify his actions by saving the lives of seven people; a life, for each of the ones he took. Whether its helping a woman escape domestic violence or donating his kidney to a cancer victim, he vows to help until he can no longer. This film is the quintessence of human condition.
It is common in life for us to reach a crossroads. We often struggle to choose between running from our problems or facing our problems. It is another prime example of how human flaw and human condition helps define our humanity. In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” we are engaged in a story of a couple desperate to make a decision on their pregnancy. The characters, like many of us in real life, wish for things to be “perfectly fine.” In this story, there seems to be a fear of the unknown. The birth of a child, in the perception of the main characters, can either be good or bad. “But I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and then everything will be fine” (Hemingway 116). The conception of a child exposes the priorities of people. Some welcome the child, eager to support the next generation, while others view it as the end to their reign in this world. When confronted with the idea that the world can still be “theirs” the man replies “No, it isn’t. And once they take it away, you never get it back” (Hemingway 116). Child birth carries a massive amount of responsibility. It will be the biggest challenge many will ever face. It forces you to sacrifice your own selfishness to care for the child. Interestingly enough we see another common example seen in real life in this piece. The girl responds to the man’s avocation for the abortion with the line “Doesn’t it mean anything to you? We could get along” (Hemingway 116). The woman has a stronger bond with bearing the child then the father does. This is a profound statement that gives us extreme insight into the human condition. Each gender has a different role during pregnancy. Since the females carry the child, they tend to have a much stronger connection, thus making it harder for them to accept the terms of abortion. The topic of abortion even to this day is a touchy subject. Many believe you are killing a child while others contest you are saving them from a terrible upbringing. It should be duly noted that this piece still has relevance to modern day times. The human condition is something we have always had and will always have. Our spirit, our defining features, makes us who we are. Human condition is surely to stand the test of time as the world around it evolves.
We can see that all three stories correlate around the notion of human condition. Each story harnesses the concept of human flaw and utilizes it to explore the human spirit and how it reacts to each flaw. With three stories written in completely different time periods, I find it incredible how they can all relate to modern day issues. Even though literature is a product of its time period, we can see how the human condition has not changed over the years. I also find it interesting how the human condition can be explored even through varying plots. We have analyzed stories about human imperfections, life at a crossroads, and redemption. No matter what the circumstance may be, our nature will continue to expose itself vibrantly.
The human condition is something that is engrained within us. We cannot fight its aspects from exposing themselves through our emotions and behavior. Whether it’s our insatiable urge to correct imperfections, or rectify the mistakes caused by our flaws, our nature will shine on. Even the darkest of shadows cannot extinguish the light of truth. Our nature is self-evident. Yet we continue to embark on journeys towards self-awareness to fully understand who we are and why we do the things we do. Our behavior stems from a variety of sources. Whether it’s our morale or the environmental influence within our existence, one thing is certain. Human nature is filled with flaw.
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