Want Meets Satisfaction

All human beings have wants, some more intensely than others and some of these desires bring huge consequences. In the Midas case, I believe the author is trying to show, how sometimes when we finally get what we want, it isn’t what we expected at all, to the point of rejecting it completely. “In consternation at the unprecedented affliction, he strove to divest himself of his power; he hated the gift he had lately coveted.” Sometimes the process by which we achieve a goal is the important learning situation, not the long awaited goal itself. In fact, maybe we are wired in such a way by society, by anatomy, that we need that wanting, that hunger to get anything done at all.

Midas’ quest is an example of how, when we achieve only our material goals, which we have been suffering for, they don’t satisfy our needs as complete humans, specially those of community, culture, spirit, religion, philosophy, art and love. “Thenceforth Midas, hating wealth and splendor, dwelt in the country, and became a worshipper of Pan, the god of the fields.” When we realize that the world shouldn’t rotate around materialism we are taken towards the world of beliefs, the world of self-exploration and philosophy, a never-ending field of knowledge. It is a way to show the reader that materialism doesn’t guide you anywhere, it takes care of your physical being and opens opportunities to have the material means and hopefully the time to do what you really want to do. It is in human nature to try to find a greater good, an answer to questions, to create, read, travel and live new experiences. Midas’ description is also a guide to measure the power of our desires.

Midas also talks about disappointment, and when our goals and beliefs are flustered. “Mortified enough was King Midas at this mishap; but he consoled himself with the thought that it was possible to hide his misfortune.” We are always influenced by our societies context. Midas is also influenced by the consequences which he tries to deal with instead of accepting. It is like a family with a child born with Downs syndrome. Obviously, I have never been in that situation but I believe that it is very hard for the parents to accept the situation. Many marriages fail when faced with these challenges. Instead of trying to deal with it as if it were a problem, it could be looked at as an opportunity to try to love as creatively as possible this special person. It would also be a test for the spirit that you will probably need the community and family to help you, that you are not super-human and that you are not alone. Breaking down our ego by not getting the fulfillment of all our desires exactly as we ordered them, can also give us powerful breakthroughs that will make us grow into better human beings.