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On the Origin of Love

So, I was researching something that I learned in literature class today (because that is what I like doing on Friday nights). We recently read the screenplay Hedwig and the Angry Inch and one song in particular really intrigued me- "The Origin of Love."

What is the origin of love? Here is a summary of Hedwig's song, based on Aristophanes' mythological philosophy that is mentioned in Socrates' Symposium. (Oh yay, story time!) Well, a long time ago, there were three sexes: the men (of the sun), the women (the earth) and the androgynous (the moon). Each sex had two heads and four legs, etc. and they were very powerful. The gods became angry with the strength of these sexes, so Zeus cut the people in half with lightning bolts. Therefore, it is now in our nature to seek  a sort of completion. Meaning, we have intrinsic desires for love and sex and finding "our other half" (as cheesy as it sounds, this is exactly what Aristophanes meant). Of course, this can mean finding a partner of the same or opposite sex, doesn't matter. We will be punished if we don't love the gods and if we don't love each other. If that happens, the gods will cut us in half again.

Of course, Aristophanes doesn't have the answer to what we are looking for in our supposed "other half." That would be like having the answer to, "what is love?" which is probably the most ambiguous question known to mankind.

In my opinion, this is what we seek in our other half:
- Respect: a mutual respect of desires, wants, and needs
- Intellect: intellectual stimulation and a sharing of knowledge
- Empathy: understanding of each other's emotions, genuine concern and interest in needs, wants
- Passion: strong love and amour, natural chemistry (not to be confused with lust)
- Devotion: also known as commitment, or a promise to be faithful (not only to do with sexual ties, but also with devotion to taking care of the person, never giving up, etc.)

In what circumstances may the gods punish us? I think it's if we commit any of these emotional crimes:
- Betrayal: failure to commit to person in any manner (sexually, emotionally, etc.)
- Arrogance: belittling a loved one, empowering oneself by boasting, swollen pride
- Prejudice: judging a loved one based on superficial things, expecting them to behave a certain way, etc.
- Deception: similar to betrayal, but worse- lying to loved one, deceiving them into believing that they love them when they really don't
- Cowardice: fear of standing up for loved one, "giving up rather than trying", closely tied with arrogance- a narcissist is a coward in disguise

Another interesting point that is brought up in Hedwig's "The Origin of Love" is:

"That's the pain that cuts a straight line down through the heart. We call it love."


Will love ever be able to satisfy? Even if our other half has all our desired attributes, will we be fulfilled? Is love finite (or does it fade after a while, in which case we're tempted to go against the gods and betray, deceive, etc., and we are consequently punished... is this why love is so painful? Because we just don't know how to love properly? Do we let our animalistic desires exceed our need for finding true love?)

All these questions are hurting my mind. But it's something to think about.

Oh, and here's Hedwig:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zU3U7E1Odc
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