਀ऀऀऀऀ㰀䰀䤀㸀㰀䈀㸀吀椀琀氀攀㨀 㰀⼀䈀㸀伀甀爀 䘀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 䜀漀搀㰀⼀昀漀渀琀 挀漀氀漀爀㴀眀栀椀琀攀㸀㰀⼀䤀㸀㰀倀㸀 The death of a friend can be an arduous occurrence for anyone. At times, it can cause a paradigm shift in a person’s life. In the Confessions, when a close childhood friend dies of a sudden illness, Augustine undergoes this same experience. The grief he feels from this incident compels him to move from Thagaste to Carthage and helps instigates the changes that later result in his conversion to Christianity. However, the effect this death has on Augustine possesses an importance beyond a mere plot shift in the Confessions because it not only brings into question for Augustine, but for us, how we should mourn the death of loved ones. In fact, the pain Augustine feels from this death may overshadow the true message he intends to deliver, namely, the manner in which a person should love a friend. Through contemplating this grief Augustine discovers that the love of friendship, like so many other things, is connected with God and without Him, can be a sin. Indeed, by experiencing the grief of a friend’s death, Augustine realizes that a spiritual love for God exceeds that of an earthly, God-like love for others, for only it can bring lasting peace on earth.

਀ऀ䄀昀琀攀爀 栀椀猀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 琀攀愀爀猀 愀渀搀 愀最漀渀椀攀猀 愀爀攀 漀戀樀攀挀琀猀 漀昀 氀漀瘀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀椀猀 洀椀猀攀爀礀  椀猀 椀渀琀椀洀愀琀攀氀礀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 洀攀爀挀礀Ⰰ 昀漀爀Ⰰ 瀀愀爀愀搀漀砀椀挀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 攀砀挀攀猀猀椀瘀攀 挀漀洀瀀愀猀猀椀漀渀 挀愀渀 戀攀挀漀洀攀猀 漀渀攀ᤀ猠 漀眀渀 洀椀猀攀爀礀⸀ ⠀䤀䤀䤀⸀㌀⤀⸀ 䘀甀爀琀栀攀爀洀漀爀攀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 愀爀最甀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀渀 挀愀渀 戀攀挀漀洀攀 椀渀昀愀琀甀愀琀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 洀椀猀攀爀礀 愀渀搀 愀最漀渀礀 琀栀愀琀 椀猀 戀漀爀渀 漀甀琀 漀昀 氀漀瘀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀爀攀戀礀 洀愀欀攀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀栀椀瀀 愀 猀椀渀昀甀氀 愀挀琀⸀ 䄀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀猀 洀攀爀挀礀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ ⠀䤀䤀䤀⸀㌀⤀㰀倀㸀 Why does it run down into the torrent of boiling pitch, the monstrous heat heats of black desires into which it is transformed? From a heavenly serenity it is altered by its own consent into something twisted and distorted. Does this mean mercy is to be rejected? Not in the least. At times, therefore, sufferings can be proper objects of love. But, my soul, be on your guard against uncleanness under the protection of my God, ‘the God of our fathers, to be praised and exalted above all for all ages’ (Dan. 3:52-5)

਀ Specifically, Augustine argues that mercy is an attribute of God that can be perverted into a sin by man. In God, mercy is necessary, for without it humans would not gain any salvation. As creatures born in the image of God, humans possess mercy, as well. Humans can use mercy in two ways: virtuously or sinfully. When used sinfully, mercy, like power or wealth, is a desire. The suffering of a friend becomes an end or a desire, for humans can take immense pleasure in being merciful and pitying others. Therefore, Augustine believes we should guard against this moral impurity. God, not others, should be put in the highest regard because God is the creator and the source of eternal love that man wishes to possess.

਀ऀ䠀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 琀爀攀愀琀 䜀漀搀 琀栀椀猀 爀攀瘀攀爀攀渀琀椀愀氀氀礀⸀ 䤀渀 栀椀猀 攀愀爀氀礀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 琀漀漀欀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 琀栀攀愀琀爀攀 愀渀搀 氀椀琀攀爀愀氀氀礀 氀椀瘀攀搀 瘀椀挀愀爀椀漀甀猀氀礀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 氀椀昀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀猀Ⰰ 攀砀栀椀戀椀琀椀渀最 琀栀椀猀 琀礀瀀攀 漀昀 挀漀洀瀀愀猀猀椀漀渀⸀ 伀昀 栀椀猀 挀漀渀搀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ ᰀ䈠甀琀 愀琀 琀栀愀琀 琀椀洀攀 愀琀 琀栀攀 琀栀攀愀琀爀攀猀 䤀 猀栀愀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 樀漀礀 漀昀 氀漀瘀攀爀猀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 眀椀挀欀攀搀氀礀 昀漀甀渀搀 搀攀氀椀最栀琀 椀渀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 攀瘀攀渀 琀栀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀挀琀椀漀渀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀瀀攀挀琀愀挀氀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀最攀 眀攀爀攀 椀洀愀最椀渀愀爀礀㬀 眀栀攀渀Ⰰ 洀漀爀攀漀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 氀漀猀琀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 䤀 猀栀愀爀攀搀 琀栀攀椀爀 猀愀搀渀攀猀猀 戀礀 愀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最 漀昀 挀漀洀瀀愀猀猀椀漀渀⸀ 一攀瘀攀爀琀栀攀氀攀猀猀Ⰰ 椀渀 戀漀琀栀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀ᴀ†⠀䤀䤀䤀⸀㌀⤀⸀ 䄀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 眀愀琀挀栀攀搀 樀漀礀 愀渀搀 猀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰ 戀礀 栀椀猀 漀眀渀 愀搀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀 栀攀 昀漀甀渀搀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀 椀渀 戀漀琀栀 琀栀攀猀攀 攀洀漀琀椀漀渀猀⸀ 匀漀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀猀 昀攀氀琀 樀漀礀 漀爀 猀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 愀挀挀漀爀搀椀渀最氀礀 昀攀氀琀 渀漀琀 渀愀爀挀椀猀猀椀猀琀椀挀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ椀渀搀甀氀最攀渀琀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀⸀ 匀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 栀攀 昀攀氀琀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀 椀渀 栀椀猀 漀眀渀 愀戀椀氀椀琀礀 琀漀 戀攀 挀漀洀瀀愀猀猀椀漀渀愀琀攀Ⰰ 猀漀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 昀攀氀氀 椀渀 氀漀瘀攀 眀椀琀栀 猀甀昀昀攀爀椀渀最⸀ 㰀倀㸀 Yet the fact that Augustine took pleasure in being compassionate suggests Augustine was not as vain as he seems. Compassion is a God-like characteristic, and by taking pleasure in being compassionate, Augustine tried to emulate God . However, as Augustine admits, man’s compassion, unlike God, possesses impure and mixed motives, for suffering, namely death, affects us (III.3). Consequently, Augustine’s compassion made him a slave to the transient twists and turns of the stage instead of an adherent to the eternal God. But because the characters in the play were fictional, they could never die, thus, Augustine could never recognize the folly of his way . Instead, Augustine says, it took an act of God, in the form of the death of a childhood friend, to show Augustine that he was merely human (IV.7).

਀ऀ䈀攀昀漀爀攀 䜀漀搀 挀漀甀氀搀 椀渀琀攀爀瘀攀渀攀 漀渀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 戀攀栀愀氀昀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 攀砀栀椀戀椀琀攀搀 琀栀椀猀 猀愀洀攀 氀漀瘀攀 漀昀 挀漀洀瀀愀猀猀椀漀渀 椀渀 栀椀猀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀 眀椀琀栀 愀 挀氀漀猀攀 挀栀椀氀搀栀漀漀搀 昀爀椀攀渀搀⸀ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 琀栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 䴀愀渀椀挀栀攀攀 搀漀挀琀爀椀渀攀 愀渀搀 愀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀猀 琀栀攀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠琀 眀愀猀 愀 瘀攀爀礀 猀眀攀攀琀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀Ⰰ 眀攀氀搀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 昀攀爀瘀漀甀爀 漀昀 漀甀爀 椀搀攀渀琀椀挀愀氀 椀渀琀攀爀攀猀琀猀☀匠漀 甀渀搀攀爀 洀礀 椀渀昀氀甀攀渀挀攀 琀栀椀猀 洀愀渀ᤀ猠 洀椀渀搀 眀愀猀 眀愀渀搀攀爀椀渀最 愀猀琀爀愀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 洀礀 猀漀甀氀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 攀渀搀甀爀攀 琀漀 戀攀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 栀椀洀ᴀ†⠀䤀嘀⸀㜀⤀⸀ 䘀爀漀洀 栀椀猀 眀漀爀搀猀Ⰰ 眀攀 挀愀渀 猀攀攀 琀栀愀琀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀栀椀瀀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀椀猀 洀愀渀 眀攀渀琀 戀攀礀漀渀搀 洀攀爀攀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 椀渀琀攀爀攀猀琀Ⰰ 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 洀攀渀 猀栀愀爀攀搀 愀 戀漀渀搀 渀漀琀 漀渀氀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 戀攀氀椀攀昀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 洀漀爀攀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀氀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀挀琀椀瘀椀琀椀攀猀⸀ 䄀猀 栀攀 攀渀樀漀礀攀搀 氀椀瘀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 瀀愀椀渀猀 愀渀搀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 搀爀愀洀愀猀Ⰰ 栀攀 攀渀樀漀礀攀搀 眀愀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 椀渀 搀攀猀瀀愀椀爀  眀椀琀栀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 樀甀猀琀 愀渀礀 愀挀琀椀瘀椀琀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 瀀栀椀氀漀猀漀瀀栀椀稀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 䴀愀渀椀挀栀攀攀 琀攀愀挀栀椀渀最猀 ⸀ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 昀攀氀氀 椀渀 氀漀瘀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀椀猀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最 猀漀 洀甀挀栀 猀漀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 氀椀瘀攀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 ⠀䤀嘀⸀㜀⤀⸀ 㰀倀㸀 Yet Augustine became so infatuated with this pleasure derived from compassion that he admits manipulating his friend. Strikingly, Augustine seems connected to God once more. On the one hand, like God, he tried to be omnipotent and control his friend’s life by his own will . In contrast, the devotion Augustine espouses for the pleasure of this compassion seems that it should be reserved for God and nobody else, for after his conversion Augustine espouses similar, but stronger, sentiments about God (I.1). In a sense, Augustine gave God like reverence to the compassion, instead of God himself, and by putting the former in an exalted place set himself up for disappointment .

਀ऀ䄀昀琀攀爀 椀渀挀甀爀爀椀渀最 愀渀 椀氀氀渀攀猀猀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 昀爀椀攀渀搀 椀猀 戀愀瀀琀椀稀攀搀 眀栀椀氀攀 甀渀挀漀渀猀挀椀漀甀猀 ⠀䤀嘀⸀㠀⤀⸀ 唀瀀漀渀 眀愀欀椀渀最 甀瀀Ⰰ 愀昀琀攀爀 猀攀攀洀椀渀最氀礀 戀攀攀渀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 愀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀椀愀渀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 猀愀洀攀 洀愀渀 挀栀愀猀琀椀猀攀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 昀漀爀 樀漀欀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 栀椀猀 䌀愀琀栀漀氀椀挀 昀愀椀琀栀⸀ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 爀攀愀挀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀ᤀ猠 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀 昀甀爀琀栀攀爀 爀攀瘀攀愀氀猀 琀栀攀 猀漀甀爀挀攀 漀昀 栀椀猀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀 愀渀搀 洀愀欀攀猀 愀 最爀攀愀琀攀爀 搀椀猀琀椀渀挀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀 栀攀 猀漀甀最栀琀Ⰰ 愀猀 栀攀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ ᰀ†䤀 眀愀猀 搀甀洀戀昀漀甀渀搀攀搀 愀渀搀 瀀攀爀琀甀爀戀攀搀㬀 戀甀琀 䤀 搀攀昀攀爀爀攀搀 琀攀氀氀椀渀最 栀椀洀 漀昀 愀氀氀 洀礀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最猀 甀渀琀椀氀 栀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 最攀琀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 爀攀挀漀瘀攀爀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀氀琀栀 愀渀搀 猀琀爀攀渀最琀栀⸀ 吀栀攀渀 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 搀漀 眀栀愀琀 䤀 眀椀猀栀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀洀ᴀ†⠀䤀嘀⸀㠀⤀⸀ 䤀渀猀琀攀愀搀 漀昀 愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀琀椀渀最 愀 搀攀猀椀爀攀 琀漀 樀甀猀琀 戀攀 眀椀琀栀 漀爀 琀漀 猀瀀攀渀搀 琀椀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 琀愀氀欀猀 漀昀 搀漀椀渀最 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 洀漀爀攀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 琀漀 洀愀渀椀瀀甀氀愀琀攀 栀椀洀⸀ 䄀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 栀椀猀 猀攀渀猀攀 漀昀 樀漀礀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 搀漀攀猀 挀漀洀攀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀戀椀氀椀琀礀 琀漀 搀漀 琀栀椀渀最猀 眀椀琀栀 漀渀攀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 搀椀猀琀椀渀挀琀椀漀渀 氀椀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀愀琀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 愀搀洀椀琀猀 栀椀猀 樀漀礀 椀渀 戀攀椀渀最 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 甀猀攀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 琀漀 搀漀 琀栀椀渀最猀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀洀 栀攀 昀椀渀搀猀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀愀戀氀攀⸀ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀 漀瘀攀爀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 洀椀爀爀漀爀猀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 瀀氀愀礀眀爀椀最栀琀 瀀漀猀猀攀猀猀攀猀 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀猀 椀渀 愀 瀀氀愀礀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 椀渀 琀甀爀渀 洀椀爀爀漀爀猀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀 䜀漀搀 栀愀猀 漀瘀攀爀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 椀渀 氀椀昀攀⸀ 吀栀甀猀Ⰰ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀Ⰰ 甀渀欀渀漀眀椀渀最氀礀Ⰰ 瀀氀愀礀攀搀 琀栀攀 爀漀氀攀 漀昀 䜀漀搀 愀最愀椀渀 愀渀搀 甀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 愀猀 愀 瀀愀眀渀 椀渀 愀渀 愀琀琀攀洀瀀琀 琀漀 最攀琀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀⸀ 㰀倀㸀 Although after the death of his friend, Augustine is deeply hurt, the pain he feels is still not for the loss of the friend, but for the loss of his pleasure from compassion that he experienced, for he says, “I had no hope that he would come back to life and my tears did not petition for this. I merely grieved and wept. I was in misery and had lost the source of my joy” (IV.10). By Augustine’s own admission, he did not cry in an attempt to bring his friend back to life. Instead, he lamented the loss of the pleasure he felt whilst spending time with someone. Because he valued his friend as a means to pleasure, he felt a loss at losing this seemingly, but not really, intimate connection. Therefore, Augustine’s grief came not from missing his friend, but from missing the pleasurable moments he spent with him . The friend merely served as a conduit to Augustine’s pleasure, so that role could have been served by anyone willing to take his place.

਀ऀ䤀渀 愀搀搀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀 搀攀愀琀栀 漀昀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 眀攀 氀攀愀爀渀 眀栀礀 琀栀椀猀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀 挀漀渀搀椀琀椀漀渀 瀀甀琀 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 椀渀 愀渀 椀爀爀攀挀漀渀挀椀氀愀戀氀攀 瀀漀猀椀琀椀漀渀⸀ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀猀 栀椀猀 猀琀愀琀攀 戀礀 猀愀礀椀渀最Ⰰ ⠀䤀嘀⸀㐀⤀㰀倀㸀 I had become myself a vast problem, and I questioned my soul ‘why are you sad and why are you very distressed?’ But my soul did not know what reply to give. If I had said to my soul ‘Put your trust in God’ (Ps.41:6,12), it would have had good reason not to obey. For the very dear friend I had lost was a better and more real person than the [Manichee] phantom in which I would have been telling my soul to trust. Only tears were sweet to me, and in my soul’s delights (Ps 138:11) weeping had replaced my friend

਀ Through trying to find solace in his friend’s death, Augustine had no higher power or higher being to rely upon. All his love and devotion rested in the transient pleasure of his compassion and not in a stable, more fulfilling entity. Because he believed in the Manichee god and not in the Christian God, Augustine could not ask the lord Jesus Christ to help him. For this reason, the pain he felt at this death was almost irresolvable unless Augustine invested this love in something else. As a result, Augustine felt sorrow and pain, but also a pleasure in feeling these emotions. In fact, tears became the source of pleasure Augustine once felt in being compassionate to his friend. So, he did not shed tears on behalf of his friend. Indeed, he shed tears to replace the pleasure he felt in a compassionate relationship, for Augustine took pleasure in thinking that his tears, like when he saw the characters on stage, were evidence of the right feelings to have at the time.

਀ऀ䄀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀 爀攀洀愀椀渀猀 甀渀挀氀攀愀爀Ⰰ  䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 氀愀琀攀爀 爀攀昀氀攀挀琀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀猀攀 琀攀愀爀猀 愀渀搀 猀琀愀爀琀猀 琀漀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀 栀椀猀 最爀椀攀昀⸀  唀瀀漀渀 搀漀椀渀最 猀漀Ⰰ 栀攀 氀攀愀爀渀猀 眀栀礀 栀椀猀 最爀椀攀昀 椀猀 猀漀 栀愀爀搀 琀漀 戀攀愀爀⸀ 䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ ⠀㐀⸀堀⤀ This is what we love in friends. We love to the point that the human conscience feels guilty if we do not love the person who is loving us, and if that love is not returned-without demanding an physical response other than the marks of affectionate good will. Hence, the mourning if a friend dies, the darkness of grief, and as the sweetness turns is turned to bitterness the heart is flooded with tears਀㰀倀㸀 From his grief, Augustine believes friendship to be self-punishing . By his observation, men feel guilty in situations where we do or do not return love because subconsciously men know that some pleasure in the friendship, not the friend, is the thing we enjoy. For Augustine, this pleasure was the compassion he could gain from manipulating his friend. In all cases, the friend is merely the instrument to enjoying the pleasure. Accordingly, even the best friendships, like the one Augustine felt he had with his friend, are subject to this problem of dishonesty. As a result, as long as men cling to the pleasures of friendship, they are subject to the pain and misery accompanying death. Unlike the eternal God, they cannot bear this pain, for their mixed motives and mortality interfere with their emotions and actions. Unlike God, men have that constant attachment to earthly goods.

਀ऀ䄀甀最甀猀琀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 猀漀氀甀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀 氀椀攀猀 椀渀 最椀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀 氀漀瘀攀 洀攀渀 最椀瘀攀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀 漀昀 愀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀栀椀瀀 琀漀 䜀漀搀 椀渀猀琀攀愀搀⸀ 䄀猀 栀攀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ ᰀ†᠀䠠愀瀀瀀礀 椀猀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀 眀栀漀 氀漀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀ᤀ†⠀吀漀戀椀琀 ㄀㌀㨀㄀㠀⤀ 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 椀渀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 攀渀攀洀礀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 漀昀 礀漀甀 ⠀䴀愀琀琀⸀ 㔀㨀㐀㐀⤀⸀ 吀栀漀甀最栀 氀攀昀琀 愀氀漀渀攀Ⰰ 栀攀 氀漀猀攀猀 渀漀渀攀 搀攀愀爀 琀漀 栀椀洀㬀 昀漀爀 愀氀氀 愀爀攀 搀攀愀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀 眀栀漀 挀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 氀漀猀琀ᴀ†⠀䤀嘀⸀㄀㐀⤀⸀ 唀渀氀椀欀攀 琀栀攀 氀漀瘀攀 漀昀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀栀椀瀀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀Ⰰ 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 氀漀瘀攀 椀猀 攀琀攀爀渀愀氀⸀ 吀栀爀漀甀最栀 椀琀Ⰰ 洀愀渀 挀愀渀 戀攀 栀愀瀀瀀椀攀猀琀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 栀攀 瀀甀琀猀 栀椀猀 氀漀瘀攀 椀渀 䜀漀搀㬀 椀渀 愀 氀漀瘀攀 琀栀愀琀 挀愀渀渀漀琀 搀椀攀 漀爀 挀栀愀渀最攀⸀ 䤀渀 挀漀渀琀爀愀猀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 氀漀瘀攀 漀昀 攀愀爀琀栀氀礀 瀀氀攀愀猀甀爀攀猀Ⰰ 戀攀 椀琀 挀漀洀瀀愀猀猀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 栀甀洀愀渀猀 漀爀 猀漀洀攀 猀甀氀氀椀攀搀 搀攀猀椀爀攀Ⰰ 挀漀洀攀 愀渀搀 最漀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀椀洀攀⸀ 一漀 昀漀甀渀搀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 氀漀瘀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀猀攀 琀栀椀渀最猀 挀愀渀 氀愀猀琀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀攀 氀漀瘀攀 漀昀 䜀漀搀Ⰰ 昀漀爀 䜀漀搀Ⰰ 氀椀欀攀 琀椀洀攀Ⰰ 椀猀 攀琀攀爀渀愀氀⸀ 䄀搀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 戀礀 氀漀瘀椀渀最 漀琀栀攀爀猀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 䜀漀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 搀攀愀琀栀 漀昀 愀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 挀愀渀 戀攀 瀀甀琀 椀渀琀漀 瀀攀爀猀瀀攀挀琀椀瘀攀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 䜀漀搀 琀漀甀挀栀攀猀 攀瘀攀爀礀琀栀椀渀最 愀渀搀 攀瘀攀爀礀漀渀攀 椀猀 猀甀戀樀攀挀琀 琀漀 䠀椀猀 氀愀眀⸀ 吀栀甀猀Ⰰ 眀攀 挀愀渀 琀愀欀攀 猀漀氀愀挀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 搀攀愀琀栀 漀昀 愀 昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 昀漀爀 渀漀琀 漀渀氀礀 椀猀 椀琀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 搀攀挀椀猀椀漀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 愀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 椀猀 愀氀猀漀 挀氀漀猀攀爀 琀漀 䜀漀搀 愀渀搀 䠀椀猀 最爀愀挀攀⸀ 㰀倀㸀 In concluding, we may note that this lesson Augustine learns impacts the lives of everyone, and this may be why he includes it in his Confessions. Friendship may be the most sought after earthly good, for humans must constantly interact with others, and for this reason it might possibly be the earthly good most liable to be turned into a sin. Through Augustine’s experience, he learns that the friendship of man cannot compare to the friendship of God because it does not include the permanence or pure motives that exists in the latter. In doing so, Augustine shows us how to live a better and more fulfilling life.

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਀㰀倀㸀 Want to reach me? E-mail me at nickhil@nickhil.com਀㰀倀㸀

਀ ਀㰀⼀昀漀渀琀㸀 ਀㰀℀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ 䔀渀搀 匀甀戀猀攀挀琀椀漀渀 ⌀㄀ ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ㸀 ਀ ਀㰀⼀琀爀㸀㰀⼀琀愀戀氀攀㸀 ਀ ਀ ਀㰀⼀琀爀㸀 ਀㰀℀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ 䔀渀搀 ㈀渀搀 吀愀戀氀攀 ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ㸀 ਀ ਀㰀⼀琀搀㸀 ਀㰀⼀琀愀戀氀攀㸀