Comparison Of Desire 'And Boethius' The Consolation Of Philosophy

The idea that an individual possesses something is presented throughout Berger’s “Another Side of Desire” and also Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy. They both also bring up the idea of suffering and happiness and having to take things day by day. Berger, being an English poet and a Marxists philosopher, brings up the idea of both desire and erotic desire. According to Berger, desire is considered an invitation to imagined pleasures and erotic desire is considered the desire to possess. Berger states that with desire there will be suffering, and it does not always lead to happiness. This relates to the idea that Boethius presents when he is imprisoned because not only is he suffering, he is questioning what true happiness is as well. Boethius was a philosopher that was imprisoned because he was involved politically and supported the senate, so technically he did not commit a crime. His days in prison helped him question what he truly possessed because he constantly asked himself questions. He came across Lady Fortune and Lady Philosophy and m they both …show more content…
Boethius states that whatever you have today is yours and it is what you must use currently. He also says this because he is imprisoned and does not have much to work with. Whereas Berger is free, but he also states that things must be taken day by day when he says “however, day-to-day life continues around, before and after it. (Berger, 131). He means that no matter what happens with the things you desire you must take it one day at a time.
Although Berger and Boethius may have similar outlooks on life when it comes to fortune, desires, and happiness they also differ in some aspects. According to Boethius, desire would be considered a fortune and a possession that does not truly belong to oneself. Using the definition that Berger provided of desire, being something that one wants to possess as well as it being