Stoic Week 2024 3

Note for Day 3 Oct 30 Character & Virtues: This week I will apply the Stoic orientation to the irrational beliefs of fictional characters in the TV stories of the original Perry Mason (1957 - 1966). The first three seasons of the show often feature illustrations of the everyday vices that undermine happiness and tranquility. Just because we don’t use the old-fashioned words like “envy” and “malice” to describe motives doesn’t mean spite is never a motive in our postmodern-a-go-go age.

My Blog Posts: Day 1 Oct 28 Control | Day 2 Oct 29 Emotions | Day 3 Oct 30 Character & Virtues

The Case of the Nine Dolls (Season 4, Episode 9, 1960)  

Linda’s Impressions: Linda was left waiting at the altar when her best friend and cousin Margaret and her fiancée Clark eloped to Vegas. They had a daughter, Peggy, and they both died young. Linda can’t stand to be in the same room with seven-year-old Peggy because the child is unlucky enough to be the spit and image of her mother. Believing she can’t get over painful memories brought back by the child’s mere appearance, Linda literally hates herself for feeling such intense dislike for the little girl.

Character & Virtues: 

STOP: Being betrayed by two trusted people must have been a bitter blow. 

TIME-OUT: Take deep breaths, call on the four virtues.

OBSERVE: It’s no wonder Linda felt “crushed.”

IDENTIFY STOIC PERSPECTIVE: Linda can change her character by focusing on what she can change and what she can’t change. Her understanding and employment of the four virtues in daily life are under her control.

CHOOSE HOW TO HANDLE SITUATION: 

Fairness: Margaret and Clark had their reasons – they thought they were doing the right thing for them – reasons that we’ll never know. 

Temperance: So there’s little point dwelling on the unknowable and the pain of past betrayal.

Justice/Fairness:  A helpless, hopeless "I-can't-change" attitude not only hurts Linda, but it isn’t being fair to seven-year-old Peggy either. She can’t help looking like her mother and just wants to love and to feel loved, belonging to a family. 

Wisdom: Linda can't change the past but she can learn from it; e.g. “People - they’ll disappoint you so if you want something good get it from yourself.” 

Courage: Linda can step up to the plate now. Linda is the only family Peggy has left now. Linda could perform cousinly duties of sociality and kinship that might assist in getting over the “I can’t stand it” refrain going through her head and blighting her life.