Eroticism has this in common with an addictive drug: that there is a coercive element to its pleasure with which part of us is in complicity, and part not. Thus ever since time began men have been trying to enjoy eroticism without being destroyed by it. Societies, religions can be defined in the way they deal with this conundrum. Polygamy, monogamy with repression, monogamy with affairs, monogamy with prostitutes, serial monogamy. Not to mention individual solutions of great ingenuity, or desperation: Victor Hugo with the door knocked through the wall of his office, to let in a girl each afternoon. Auden's flair for finding call-boys in every town. Picasso who simply refused when wife and mistress demanded he choose between them. Then there is always the hair-shirt of course. But perhaps the thing to remember when you wake up with a life full of fresh paint and tortuous complications is that eroticism wasn't invented for you, nor merely for the survival of the species perhaps, but for a divinity's entertainment. Nothing generates so many opportunities for titillation and schadenfreude as eroticism. Which is why it lies at the centre of so much narrative. How the gods thronged the balconies of heaven to see the consequences of Helen's betrayal! And your friends are watching too. Your antics have put the shine on many a late-night conversation.
On the borders between mythology and history, that wily survivor Odysseus was the first who learnt to trick the gods. And perhaps his smartest trick of all was that of lashing himself to the mast before the Sirens came in earshot. There are those of course who are happy to stand at the railings, even scan the horizon. Otherwise, choose your mast, find the ropes that suit you: sport, workaholism, celibacy with prayerbook and bell... But the kindest and toughest ropes of all are probably to be found in some suburban semi-detached with rowdy children and a woman who never allows the dust to settle for too long.
| 性爱与瘾品一样,愉悦的背后都存在着一种强迫性因素,尽管人类的部分自我尚未泯灭,但另一部分自我已沦为同谋。自创世纪以来,人类就一直在以各种方式享受性爱,性爱也没有因为这种因素而遭到毁坏。社会和宗教如何处理这个自相矛盾的迷团甚至可以成为对社会和宗教进行定义和划分的依据。如一夫多妻或一妻多夫制、推崇潜抑作用的一夫一妻制、有越轨自由的一夫一妻制、可嫖妓的一夫一妻制、接力赛似的一夫一妻制。我们不必再提及那些极富创意或令人失望的婚姻制度了。维克多·雨果 (Victor Hugo) 在通向他办公室的墙上开了一扇门,以便每天下午都能放进来一个女孩;奥登 (Auden) 似乎天生就有能在任何城镇找到应召男郎的本事;而大画家毕加索 (Picasso) 更是一位情圣,当妻子和情人问他到底选谁时,他竟然摇头,称谁也不选。当然,也总有些人选择苦行者的刚毛衬衣,以此禁欲修行。但是当你醒来时,虽然精神亢奋,心绪却纷杂零乱时,也许应该记住,性爱并不是为你一人而生,也不仅仅是为了物种的繁衍,而是在神的驱使下进行的一场娱乐和游戏。只有性爱才能创造出如此多的机会使人越搔越痒,欲罢不能,甚至把自己的愉悦建立在对别人的伤害之上。这就是为什么性爱总能成为故事的中心。君不见天上众神是多么的好奇,蜂拥而至天堂的露台去看海伦背叛的结局吗!其实,你的朋友也在看着你呢。你怪异的行为总能为他们茶余饭后的谈资点燃些许激情。
在神话与历史的边缘,足智多谋的幸运儿奥德修斯是第一个学会戏弄众神的人。但是,也许他精心策划的如意算盘却是将自己绑缚到了船桅上,而此时海妖塞壬却已悄然临近。当然,还是有许多人乐意站在船栏边,即使只是扫视一眼海平面也在所不辞。如果你不想这样,那就选好船桅,找到适合你的绑绳,例如热衷运动、醉心工作或者手捧祈祷书,伴着钟声起誓成为独身主义者……。不过,又好又结实的绑绳可能只能在某处土气的半独立式房屋内才能找到,房屋的一边是喧嚣吵闹的小孩,另一边却住着一位高雅洁净的女士。
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