Augustine's Ethos The Pear Tree

Temptation is defined as the urge to do something especially wrong or unwise. Augustine uses Confessions to show modern day temptation with stealing. In Book Two, The Pear Tree, Augustine speaks of his struggles with stealing. Temptation draws him to stealing fruit for many reasons. These reasons include, breaking laws, to feel sinful, and simply because he knew he did not need the fruit and it was not supposed to be taken. Forbidden things make temptation grow stronger. Augustine mentions God’s law first. It is stated that God’s law is set in stone and it should not be changed or broken for any reason. He punishes thieves because stealing is against his law. This is God’s law because nobody wants to be stolen from, not even a thief. Even rich people do not like to have things stolen from them, even if you need or want the things more than they do. Just as God had a law during Augustine’s days, God also has a law today. It is known as the Ten Commandments. Of these Ten Commandments, the eighth one is “You Shall Not Steal.” Because everyone is supposed to follow the Ten Commandments, stealing should not be done. No one wants to have their possessions that they have worked very hard for, taken away from them. Augustine stole just to break God’s law and feel superior to the laws. …show more content…
He stole things that he already had, had plenty of, and had better quality of. He did it just because he and his friend agreed to do it. Today many people do things because they don’t want to seem like a coward to their friends, especially teenagers. They steal to fit in with other and to be popular or cool. Seeing friends, family members, and peers stealing things make others want to join in, without thinking about the consequences. In many instances, students are pressured to do what they see others do. This increases the temptation of participating in activities such as