Mutability is an inscrutable word. On the surface it means changeability, but it also connotes the ephemeral quality of the human condition. Poets lament our mutability, however through that inherent feature, classic tales are able to leverage humanity to a higher level; to lift humanity up from the savagery of the world. Against the backdrop of an ever changing environment and with the knowledge that, for individuals, death is a certainty, the classics reveal how humankind might transition away from savagery and move toward a civilized world. Human mutability both describes our fate as individuals and provides an escape from fate for humanity by way of the transmission, from one generation to the next, of classic stories involving choice.
In contrast to the classics, 19th century poets like Shelly and Wordsworth, contemplated the fleeting nature of the human condition with calm acceptance.…show more content… People change if they are rewarded by the change or if stagnation will create a situation where they would lose something of value. This drives how we live out our lives. In the Garden of Eden, Eve was perfect, and before eating the apple, she was immutable in her perfection. However, God had given Adam and Eve the ability to change themselves through choice, but since they were already perfect, their choice led to a move away from perfection. After the apple, that door for mutability was thrown wide open. Humans could now make choices, we could change our behavior, we could make mistakes, and we could die. In all facets of our lives, we make choices. Society even tries to manipulate the choices made by high school students by tying the freedom of senior option to good grades and responsible behavior. Without the incentive of leaving school during senior option and lunch, would they still make the choices that lead them to become responsible young
