So, I'm coming to find that life really isn't black and white. I mean, I believe in truth and that God is the author of truth, but I think how we apply truth and view it is subjective--and I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing. I mean I don't loose sleep over the fact that my mom is a democrat and my dad is a republican.
I imagine Shakespeare new this, cause he really used this subjectivity well in his work. Case in point: Desdemona and Emilia from the tragedy Othello. It is clear from their interaction that they see the world in very different ways. Desdemona is the idealist; she believes in being true to your husband and in the virtue of mankind. Emilia is more of the realist; being faithful to your man is good until you get a better offer because in the end the world is yours to manipulate for your gain. Both characters stand at opposite ends of the "what is truth" spectrum.
What I love is how Shakespeare handles these two characters with their separate philosophies. Both characters are very involved in the play and so not one ideal overshadows the other. Both are fleshed out characters with equal time with the audience and both die noble martyrs deaths. Shakespeare presents these two world views without clearly portraying one as superior to the other. He presents them neatly on two silver platters from which I can taste one or both or neither--kinda a "pick your truth" scenario. He leaves his art open for my interpretation.
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