Bound But Free.

*another long nonsensical rant.

I don't usually post quotes. But here's one of my favourite and most thought about quotes from John Donne and a bit about what it means to me.

"No man is an island"

^ That's not the whole quote, but it is the most famous part.

It's commonly accepted that Donne believed that us humans only thrive when we are part of a group, or society with others.

Arguably also, all our actions directly or indirectly affect others in our realm.

In Donne's words, "no man is an island...entire to himself".

One of the most beautiful and thought provoking parts (to me) of what Donne goes on to say is,

"any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind"

Is that really the case anymore? I wonder.

I'm not entirely sure when John (yes we're on a first name basis now) penned his words, but I think it was during the 1600's.

Inevitably things have changed.

In my opinion (and that's all this is, "my opinion") I don't think we have the ties or perhaps the engagement with our fellow humans that we once had...and arguably 'should' have.

Bare with me whilst I get slightly political here (or stop reading...I wont be offended).

The majority of us live in society brought forth via modernisation and the adoption of capitalism teamed with liberalism.

When I say liberalism, I mean the core facets of belief within the school of political thought associated with liberalism. Such as rolling back the state, liberty etc, etc.

And the part which I want to pick up on is "individual liberty".

We are a world obsessed with individual freedom, human rights etc, etc.

But in creating a world where we all strive to be free "individuals", we've created alienation and selfishness.

Sure, our actions still affect others. But do we really care? It's a free country is it not?

Hence David Cameron's (the UK prime minister) big society idea, supposedly thought up to bring community back together....bollocks (that means balls to you americans).

A while back I read about a woman who lived not very far from me.

Her name was Joyce Carol Vincent.

When Joyce was younger she was very popular, her friends described her as attractive and charming, she had four sisters and she lived alone.

In January 2006, council officials repossesing a flat discovered 38 year old Joyce's body on a sofa in the flat.

She had been dead for three years.

Her skeleton lay there for three years. No one had even checked on her.

What's the population of London? Around 8 or 9 million? And she went unnoticed?

I did'nt know Joyce but when I read her story I felt shocked, sad and even a little guilty. Sadness and guilt for a person I do not know...what's wrong with me, my friends asked...what's wrong with you? My less than witty retort.

I'm not a very loud person. I don't have many ties, I have a very small family, many acquaintances but a small circle of friends.

I'm not the most social person, I'm introverted and sometimes blunt, I wish I was'nt. But I've met people who I've cast aside without a second thought, as I'm sure people have done with me.

I've lived next door to the same people all my life and I don't even know their names. What does that say about us? I wonder...

I could have easily been one of those people who had once known and later forgotten Joyce.

Or even more worryingly, had I not had my friends and my mother and brother, I could easily be just like Joyce was, isolated and alone...but individually free...Thank's society.

So is it true today to say, "no man is an island, entire to himself?".

It's definetly less truer (is that a word?) than it should be.

Sure our actions still affect others around us, even if we don't care.

But...the sanctity of our ties with our fellow men and women is slowly, but surely dying.

So Donne may say "no man is an island"

I say..."live together, die alone"

Or as Orson Welles eloquently put it "we're born alone, we live alone, we die alone"

How fucked up is that?