I really thought this was an interesting portrayal because until I read this I had never heard of the idea of a common area. You do not stay in Heaven or Hell for eternity, but once you have spent your time then you are sent to a common area. I found it interesting that depending on if you choose to be an animal or a human depended on if you had a good afterlife. As Bloom wrote in his interpretive essay, "The myth attributes full responsibility to men for what happens to them and thus teaches that there is no sin but ignorance."
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Myth of Er
In Book X there is a very interesting interpretation of what happens once you pass away. As we read Er was sent to observe what actually happened in the afterlife and then to come back and report what he found. He found out that people are reward on virtues on rather or not they get to go to Heaven or Hell. This happens over a period of 1000 years. After they have served their time in Heaven or Hell they are brought into a common area. This is where they decide if they want to be a human or an animal in their next life.
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It is an interesting concept because it sort of toys with reincarnation. In the Christian faith, we are taught that your life's actions are judged when you die and you are sent to either Heaven or Hell accordingly. You then spend eternity there. It's simpler than what the Myth of Er talks about, where you follow different paths and go on more adventures before deciding what you want to become. It's like there is no final destination.
ReplyDeleteReincarnation is one of those topics I stay for away from.
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