The Family Tragedy

Is the family sacred? I never can decide.

In other words: are the bonds of a family more than just a constructed social ideal, are they always somehow above the level of mere friendship?

There is this idea that the family is there when all others turn away. Indeed - how many elderly do you see living in the homes of friends?

But there is too much suffering in the home for families to be sacred. Too much neglect, abuse, even murder; and of course the lesser things. Some say that surely, at least the bond between mother and child is irrefutable. But even there are exceptions, so I wonder where the line is drawn.

Must tragedy strike for two siblings to be closer to their friends than to each other? Or is it merely luck that brings two siblings to the place where they can be both, siblings and friends.

Is it only that a tragedy can separate them, or is it a tragedy in and of itself when they are not so lucky? And why?

For the sake of discussion, let's simplify and call love the feeling that you want to spend time with someone. Let's call duty the other kind of 'love', that compels family to keep trying, to take care of each other, to bring the elderly into their basement and... in short, what friends don't intrinsically have.

The legend is that for family the two are tightly woven. Family is sacred.

But that cannot be!

Love may or may not follow blood, but duty seems more strictly relegated to the family.

So - is this the Family Tragedy?

Not that it was tragic misunderstanding and circumstances which must have unnaturally torn the family - sacred and destined for both love and duty - asunder.

Rather that if luck does not join the two within the family, then the individual has lost their chance for that ultimate, sacred goal - love and duty intertwined - save only by marriage.

Yes, I think it may be the truth.

That's why... Childless widows, Bitter old men...
Motherless Daughters. Fatherless Sons.
They carry it with them. And invent legends.

You know of what I speak.