In the hardest times of human lives, especially in situations when death is inevitable conclusion in the succession of the close future events, human mind and body respond strongly to this. Some of the responses include overthinking the past, justifying past decisions and redefining goals and meaning of life, as building of self-defense mechanism. An important role in shaping these thoughts and reflections also paly the circumstances that lead to the tragic destiny of an individual.
On the example of the movie “Dead Man Walking” we can see the struggle of an individual who indeed committed a crime, and thus had been convicted to death. During the last days of convict’s life, knowing the precise day of his death, he goes through various phases: denial, struggle for escaping the punishment, suffer and regret, and in the end seeking forgiveness. Even though in this case the forgiveness was not explicitly certified by those to whom it was directed to, it seemed as this act itself was a rhetorical one: seeking of forgiveness as a final comprehension of the crime and therefore sufficient for the redemption of this individual. But, the idea of forgiveness came from finding the meaning in the suffering and regret – “when we are no longer able to change a situation ... we are challenged to change ourselves” (Frankel, 1984: 135).
On the other hand, there are some life’s amenities where a choice possible, and in this case, what choice do we take? In this case, the conflict emerges by giving one choice the advantage. Major Sullivan Ballou, for example, chooses certain death as opposed to going back to his loving wife and family. His decision reflects the “moral” conflict that is seen in Greek tragedies as a decision that cannot be avoided (Nussbaum 2001: 29), no matter what other consequences it leaves behind. Moral can here be seen as giving life for some higher goals and ideals, and the belief that this decision would also provide a better life and future for his loved ones.
References:
Frankel, V. E. Man’s Search for Meaning (1984). Retrieved from https://ia601207.us.archive.org/13/items/MansSearchForMeaningViktorE.Frankel/Man%27s%20Search%20For%20Meaning%20-%20Viktor%20E.%20Frankel.pdf
Nussbaum, M. Aeschylus and practical conflict (2001), in: Fragility of Goodness, Luck and Ethics in Greek Tragedy and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://toleratedindividuality.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/the-fragility-of-goodness-luck-and-ethics-in-greek-tragedy-and-philosophy.pdf
Sullivan Ballou’s Last Letter retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/resources/story.htm%3Fid%3D253
