Wednesday, February 11, 2015

TEST OF GREATNESS

A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in the success. - - - Otto von Bismarck

Three elements:  

1. Generosity
2. Humanity
3. Moderation in success.

A person who is generous is usually found to be compassionate, caring, loyal and comforting.

A person with humanity cares and thinks about other people above themselves.

A person who moderates in success is a humble individual with less grand personal ambitions for fame or fortune than the average celebrity wannabee.

If these elements comprise the definition of a "great man" (or woman), LOST failed us.

For example, viewers would scream that Jack was the greatest character on the series. He fits the definition of a great man.

Was Jack generous? We don't know about his own charitable principles. He was caring and comforting to his patients, but he also imposed his own ego in their diagnosis by promising "miracle" cures.  False hope is not compassion, but a form a cruelty.

Did Jack have humanitarian qualities? A humanitarian is concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare. Jack tried to get the original survivors on the same page, to work together in order to live on the island (especially when rescue was a lost cause). But over time, a dark side of Jack appeared; instead of trying to find "diplomatic" solutions with the Others, he was an advocate of ambush. And once his leadership was questioned, he withdrew.

Was Jack humble in his successes? In fierce arguments with people like Locke, not really. In order to be the alpha male, he had to back down and belittle his opponents. When Ben was captured on the hike to the tower, Jack snapped and beat him senseless even though Ben was in no position to undo Jack's successful mission. As the series went on, Jack did want to get more and more acknowledgement from the people around him. As such, he became more reckless in his actions.

Under this definition of greatness, not even Jack can pass the test.