In Book II of Confessions, Augustine discusses the nature of his childhood, highlighting his mischievous and sinful tendencies. For the majority of the book he ruminates over an incident in his early childhood where he and friends steal pears from a neighbor’s tree. Augustine obsesses over the pear theft because he feels that it is representative of his childhood propensity of sinning for no valid reason, which he has not yet been able to come to terms with.
Augustine’s longtime issue with the theft goes much farther beyond simply right and wrong. In section five he talks about several of the accepted reasons why people do wrong such as revenge, greed, or justice. He believes that one of the reasons his theft was so terrible was because he did it for none of those reasons, he did it “only to enjoy the theft itself and the sin” (47). He sinned only for the sake of sinning and not only that but his “real pleasure consisted in doing something that was forbidden” (47). He is ashamed that his theft was unjustified and prompted by the worst of urges. Augustine speculates that a possible ulterior motive could have been for camaraderie with his friends but he points out that, this too, is unacceptable in his eyes and God’s. He believes that friendship brings people a happiness that tempts them to abandon the higher joys offered to us by God.
It is clear that Augustine is upset about more than just pears as he writes these pages. I think this one event of his childhood is sticking out to him as a representative of many similar repeated actions and of how he generally behaved as a child. It upsets him that he was never punished for his theft but he appeases this with the knowledge that he will be punished by God’s law. Augustine has not yet forgiven himself and is desperately seeking God’s help in understanding not only past actions but also this entire immoral and sinful period in his life.
This second book in Confessions is complex with parts of it that I both can and cannot identify with. I understand Augustine’s feelings of regret and shame at having done a wrong deed in the past and I also feel guilt at having gotten away with things at times. However, I think that he is a bit too harsh on his younger self. Nowadays we have scientific research available that tells us how a person’s sense of right and wrong does not develop right away; it is not until people are older than Augustine was at the time of this story that their moral code is fully developed. I think that most of us can identify with Augustine when he speaks of walking the streets of Babylon at a young age and how he “wallowed in its mire as if it were made of spices and precious ointments” (46). I believe this behavior is a necessary step in growing up, one that we all experience in youth and eventually pull out of when we are ready.
Bibliography
Saint Augustine. Confessions. Edited by R. S. Pine-Coffin. London, England: Penguin Group, 1961.
I also found the pear incident to be an important part of the second book in "Confessions". I had not thought of the possibility that the stealing of the pears could be one incident used to represent many. This was an interesting thought to me. It does seem rather unlikely that only one crime like this would have been committed by Augustine, due to the fact that he reflects heavily on it and had such enjoyment from just one encounter with theft. However, I do think that Augustine is justified in his reflection about the pear incident. It is certainly not the physical damage the theft caused that upsets Augustine. The act represented much more than the damage it caused. Also, I do not think age would have been an excuse for his actions. People are aware from a very early age stealing is wrong. But I do agree as we age and gather more knowledge our understanding of right and wrong becomes more complex.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assertion that Augustine was being too harsh on himself for stealing pears; however, I have a different opinion about why his judgment is too severe. I think that Augustine understood the morals of society especially since he knew that stealing was a crime and reveled in the feeling of “doing something that was forbidden” (47). However, I think he is too quick to dismiss the fact that teenagers are especially prone to being led astray. Augustine clearly understands the fact that everyone makes mistakes; he just can’t seem to forgive himself for his own mistakes.
ReplyDeleteI agree that making mischievous mistakes as a child does teach valuable life lessons. But I differ with you in your opinion that getting into trouble is a necessary part of growing up. Though I believe it is inevitable to escape childhood without getting into some sort of mischief, I don't think a child that did not commit bad deeds can not grow into a good young person.
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