Poe describes the “spirit of perverseness” as one of the basic human instincts. This means the innate desire to do something wrong or evil just because it is wrong. An example of the spirit of perverseness coming over myself occurred when I was several years younger. I found a wallet at a gas station that had fifty dollars in cash in it. The wallet contained id as well. The gas station was open with an attendant whom I could have turned the wallet into. But I didn’t. I kept the cash and destroyed the other contents in the wallet. I knew this was wrong. I know what I should have done, but for once I wanted to NOT do the right thing. I did not keep the money because I needed gas or food. I kept it simply because I knew it was the bad thing to do. At the time I felt guilty and afraid. I was afraid someone would find out what I did. I felt like a really bad person and that was the appropriate feeling. Now that I am older I realize that the desire to do wrong comes over everyone. Just because we have those desires does not mean we are evil. But acting on those on them is a different story!
I think almost everyone at some time has kept something they knew they shouldn't have kept. I also remember the feeling of just keeping it for the sake of knowing it was wrong. I often wonder about human emotion. We are so tuned to do the right thing that sometimes we feel forced to do the exact opposite. Most of us in doing so find ourselves bathing in remorse and regret. An odd life we lead.
ReplyDeleteI feel this is part of living life. Every day we are faced with eithical decisons. Some do not affect others some impact others for life. All we can do is make the decison for ourselves for the moment. Own it!
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