Arthur Schopenhauer stated “compassion is that basis of morality.” Compassion of oneself defines the morality that one presents towards others. Morality is perspective that could change during time because you start experiencing life. In the novel “Roxana or The Fortunate Mistress” the main character Roxana goes through changes of her perspective of morality. Roxana’s perspective of morality change from survive needs then to greed, but in the end she feels guilty of her actions. Roxana was living on her own since her husband went missing. She didn’t have income to support herself and especially not her family. Roxana’s statement that “The House, that was before handsomely furnish’d with Pictures and Ornaments, Cabinets, Peir-Glasses, and
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Her life changed once again when the Jeweler got murdered because her contract was terminated. Roxana life did change for the better because she “possess’d of almost ten Thousand Pounds Sterling, in a very few Days after the Disaster” (55). She was comfortable with the money and possessions that she received from the Jeweler. She was able to maintain herself with all those gifts. Roxana went to sell some of the items that Jeweler gave her that round up to “1700 Livers,” which was sufficient enough to have a good life (57). In the other hand, Roxana started expanding her business to receive more wealth and gifts. Then she started to go out to formal balls to meet new people. She found herself a Prince that she manipulated and she was successful to become a mistress for him. Roxana states “I manag’d him with such Art, that he generally anticipated my Demands” (66). She is better at her business that the Prince already knows her demand. She got twice amount of currency then her pervious client. Roxana is getting everything she never had when she was married to the one man. She expressed that she continues this business is that she never wants to poor again. She still remembers all those feelings of hopelessness that greed is a better feeling. Her moral judgment has changed from the beginning because she no longer needs the wealth after the Jeweler. Her moral has changed that she doesn’t want to feel poor every again. Her compassion towards other has change to manipulating them, and has lost respect towards herself. That this business is destroying her moral of the world and especially the aspect of
Her life changed once again when the Jeweler got murdered because her contract was terminated. Roxana life did change for the better because she “possess’d of almost ten Thousand Pounds Sterling, in a very few Days after the Disaster” (55). She was comfortable with the money and possessions that she received from the Jeweler. She was able to maintain herself with all those gifts. Roxana went to sell some of the items that Jeweler gave her that round up to “1700 Livers,” which was sufficient enough to have a good life (57). In the other hand, Roxana started expanding her business to receive more wealth and gifts. Then she started to go out to formal balls to meet new people. She found herself a Prince that she manipulated and she was successful to become a mistress for him. Roxana states “I manag’d him with such Art, that he generally anticipated my Demands” (66). She is better at her business that the Prince already knows her demand. She got twice amount of currency then her pervious client. Roxana is getting everything she never had when she was married to the one man. She expressed that she continues this business is that she never wants to poor again. She still remembers all those feelings of hopelessness that greed is a better feeling. Her moral judgment has changed from the beginning because she no longer needs the wealth after the Jeweler. Her moral has changed that she doesn’t want to feel poor every again. Her compassion towards other has change to manipulating them, and has lost respect towards herself. That this business is destroying her moral of the world and especially the aspect of