Tan, Zandriex Rae V.

GEED 10023 – Understanding the Self

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Activity
1. I am a man who is indecisive but not impetuous; I weigh the benefits and drawbacks of
everything I do or plan to do. Being ambivert allows me to mingle with others while yet
enjoying my alone time. I truly want to interact and make friends with strangers, attend to
parties and enjoy life, but I also want to appreciate the tranquil life of being alone, or
perhaps with my love one who can deeply be with me all night with a glass of wine for
refreshment. Most people think I'm punctual, which might be because I only care about
other people's time. I always value time, and wasting it causes significant regrets that I
won't be able to reverse. Also, I can compare myself to a bamboo because, as you can see,
bamboos are tough on the outside but hollow on the inside, just like me. My friends say
I'm strong and that they can lean on my shoulders in times of need, but if you force open
the inside of me, you'll find that I'm shallow, drained out, and almost incapable of fighting,
but I'm still fighting for the future.

2. The younger version of myself was a happy-go-lucky child who didn't care about his grades
or was unconcerned about them, and who loved to play outside with his neighbors. But
today I can state that I've gone through a lot of changes; I'm fighting these challenges and
problems in life while planning for my future; I'm grade conscious since I've always wanted
my parents to be proud of me and that my pains will not be insignificant. As I confront
these challenges, I've decided that I'm not going to be like this for the sake of others, but
simply for the sake of myself. I'm no longer reliant on the approval of others.

3. In some aspects, I may state that I am similar to others: I am struggling with personal
concerns and mental health challenges. But I can set myself apart from others in the way I
approach these challenges; I may not be the hardest, but I may be the most inventive when
it comes to coping with them.
4. Through my mind, heart, spirit, emotions, and other connecting ligaments, I am undeniably
linked to my body. To operate properly, certain bodily parts must be linked to one another.
Every emotion you have within translates and manifests itself in my actions. My "self" is
accountable for my feelings and emotions, my "self" is responsible for making decisions
for me, and my body will be responsible for displaying or doing what my "self" desired.
We might be weaker than our bodies in life because we are dealing with internal sensations
and emotions that we usually don't want people to witness. We've always aspired to be
strong in the sight of others.

5. Yes, it exists beyond death, in my view. Muslims believe that life is only a passing phase.
After death, there is an eternal existence, thus when a person dies, their soul travels on to
another realm. The soul will be given a new body on the Day of Resurrection, and mankind
will stand before God for judgment. Those who believe in God and delight him via good
actions will be rewarded with Heaven, or paradise, where they will spend eternally. Those
who defy God will spend eternity in Hell. For some, this will just be a 'cleaning time,'
during which they will be purged of their sins before entering Heaven.
Assessment
1. Invictus by William Ernest Henley is an inspirational poem. This poem depicts the poet’s
attempt to motivate himself when there is no hope at all. When the poet writes this poem,
he has already lost one of his legs. So, in such a situation of mental and physical agony,
the poet tries to lift up his courage.
In the very beginning of the poem, the poet says that he wants to thank God. In fact, he
admits that his life has no ray of hope. Rather his future seems to be as dark as a pit. But
then also he is grateful to God for his ‘unconquerable soul’. He says that no pain can be
able to curve his soul.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul. (Invictus)

Eventually, he claims that whenever he fell into some difficulty, he always remained
unbeatable. However, situations have tried to destroy him, he always fights back with
courage. In fact, he agrees that sometimes difficulties have made him bleed and suffer. But
he never let himself to bow before them and cry out of fear.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed. (Invictus)

In the third stanza, the poet says that horror has always lurked behind him. But it always
finds him unafraid. Whenever menace or trouble has come in his life, he has faced it
bravely.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,
 And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid. (Invictus)
Finally, in the last stanza, Henley says that though the gate of life is narrow he will
definitely pass it with vigor. Moreover, he declares that he is the master of his fate, meaning
his fortune. Also, he claims that he is the captain of his soul.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. (Invictus)

Hence, this poem motivates the readers to understand the fact that nobody can control our
lives. It only depends on us how we choose to live our lives. Henley ends his poem with a
note that one should become the friend, philosopher, and guide of one’s own soul.

https://medium.com/@phoenixac10/invictus-by-william-ernest-henley-an-analysis-
20d3e0beda8

2. This poem is about having bravery in the face of death and maintaining one's dignity
despite the indignities that life throws at us. In my perspective, the "self" is well-
represented in the poem. The "self" is the person who is self-sufficient and capable of
overcoming life's challenges.

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

As stated, the “self” is the head of everything and it controls everything. Despite of not
being visible, the “self” is strong enough to neglect the pain and sacrifices in order to
succeed in life.
3. Socrates' thought, in my opinion, is the finest philosophical theory that describes the
portrayal of an idea about the self in this poetry. Because he thinks that every man is made
up of both the body and the soul, or that he is dualistic. He also claimed that there is a soul
that exists before the body, in the domain of ideas. When the soul enters the corporeal
world, he forgets everything, according to the socratic perspective.