Human errors of insanity and lack of responsibility in literature

According to Merriam webster ‘to err is human’ means, "it is normal for people to make mistakes."Man is a social animal. When he interacts with society and its environment, he makes mistakes and learns from them. Similarly, when God created this world, Adam and Eve made mistakes when they ate the ‘forbidden fruit’. So, we can say that making mistakes is natural. Moreover, making mistakes is part of a human beings and their nature. It is also said that ‘to forgive is divine’ which means that God forgives his creation for their timely made mistakes when a person seeks forgiveness. Because it is better to admit mistakes and excuse them because God has the trait to forgive His people.

From ancient times, literature has put light on the theme of madness. In the classical period of literature, insanity was associated with divine power. It was considered that the people who are insane, are lost in the thoughts and love of their creator. i.e. God. Moreover, the people had a divine vision of everything, and their insanity was associated with spirituality. The concept of insanity was changed in the renaissance period. In the renaissance period, a mad person was the one who was embarrassed by deliberate pride. The concept of madness was continued from the renaissance to the neo-classical period.  In the neo-classical period of English Literature, a mad person was considered accountable for his own madness because of his incapability to let his reason control his emotions. The romantic period held a different perception of insanity. In the romantic period, a mad person is suppressed and has been a victim of overpowering circumstances. Such situations made him act differently and think differently.

An African writer, Chinua Achebe has presented the theme of insanity in his story ‘The madman’. In this story, he has discussed the different notions Ibos had of insanity. The story shows the psychic difference between two persons i.e., madman and Nwibe. When the madman takes Nwibe’s clothes, and Nwibe started running behind him to show his madness and later he tries to convince other people. “’Stop the madman,’ he shouted hoarsely, ’he’s got my cloth!’ Everyone looked at him first in surprise and then less surprised because strange sights are common in a great market. Some of them even laughed. ’They’ve got his cloth he says.’ That’s a new one I’m sure. He hardly looks mad yet. Doesn’t he have people I wonder?” (Achube,  Madman). With those statements, Newbie was denounced as Mad who is absolved of his misbehavior and his family is blamed for letting him out of freehand. Nwibe’s two relatives were ready to give their basket of Yams and calabash of palm wine in order to prevent Nwibe. “Setting foot irrevocably within the occult territory of the powers of the market”. His relatives were unable to stop him but a woman gave her top cloth to cover Nwibe’s nakedness. But the people did not listen to the story that madman took his clothes.

Albert Camus famous shorty-story ‘The Guest’ focuses on the lack of responsibility in human nature. When a person came into this world, he has to perform his responsibilities in society. However, it is also in human nature that he runs from his duties. In the story, ‘The guest’ Daru explores man's moral responsibilities. Despite knowing the troubles, he believes that it is wrong to hand over the prisoner to the higher authorities. He was given the responsibility to have an eye on the prisoner but he treats him as a guest and offers him food. Moreover, he gives him the chance to escape which shows his irresponsibility. However, Daru was accountable to the higher authority even he delivered them the prisoner or not. “you handed over our brother.  You will pay for this.’’ (p. 192)