Hay dos animales que poseen una gran riqueza simbólica y que quiero usar para explicar el auténtico sentido de la masculinidad. El primero de estos animales es el símbolo por excelencia de la virilidad: el león. En la imagen del león encontramos muchas de las virtudes que consideramos propias del hombre ideal: valentía, fortaleza, autoridad. Es el ejemplo perfecto de un macho-alfa: nos lo imaginamos como un poderoso guerrero cuyo rugido inspira temor y respeto entre todos los demás leones (y eso sin contar la melena, la cual le da un toque adicional de masculinidad). El cordero, en cambio, representa lo contrario. No es un animal agresivo, ni fuerte, sino pasivo y manso. Es débil y dependiente y generalmente lo asociamos con la falta de voluntad propia.
Si a cualquier hombre le preguntáramos que a cuál animal preferiría como representación de sí mismo, probablemente respondería que el león. Eso es lo que nuestra cultura nos ha vendido desde que somos pequeños. Sin embargo, esta misma cultura no nos enseña a ser como el león simbólico, sino como el león real: un animal perezoso, egoísta e irresponsable, que deja el esfuerzo de la cacería a las leonas pero que, eso sí, come primero y sin compartir.
La muestra más clara de esta realidad la encontramos en los “hombres-niño”. El hombre-niño es el hombre inútil, el eterno dependiente. Un tipo de hombre-niño que se ha vuelto muy común es aquél que, a pesar de haber alcanzado la edad adulta, sigue viviendo con sus padres, jugando videojuegos y viendo caricaturas. Si tiene trabajo, es un trabajo mediocre, por lo que es incapaz de mantenerse y, mucho menos, de mantener a otros. Es igualmente incapaz de cualquier tipo de sacrificio porque para él, lo único que importa es la comodidad. En su mente, todo el mundo gira en torno a él y todos están para servirle. Este tipo de “hombre” se ha vuelto común en Japón y Europa y está extendiéndose rápidamente por todo Occidente. Ahora bien, es muy probable que todo hombre-niño se imagine a sí mismo como un león, y no como un cordero.
Como podemos ver, lo que importa no es la imagen que tengamos de nosotros mismos o de estos animales simbólicos, sino la realidad. ¿Qué nos puede enseñar la realidad del cordero? En primer lugar, que es un animal cuya lana usamos para cubrirnos del frío y cuya carne nos sirve de alimento. Además, siempre ha sido considerado un animal digno de ser ofrecido a la divinidad como un sacrificio. En pocas palabras, es un animal que ha ayudado a nuestro sustento tanto material como espiritual. Mientras que el león no tiene nada aprovechable para los demás, el ser entero del cordero está para servir a los otros. Ese es el ideal al que debemos aspirar como hombres.
La vocación del hombre es el servicio, el ser el sustento material y espiritual de una familia aún cuando ello signifique renunciar a su propia comodidad. Está llamado a proveer de abrigo y alimento a su esposa y a sus hijos, aún cuando él tenga que sacrificar su bienestar personal. Va al frente de su familia en el terreno espiritual no como sacerdote sino como víctima de sacrificio. Es a través de su sacrificio que su familia podrá acercarse a Dios. Va al frente porque les va allanando el camino, retirando los obstáculos que puedan hacerles tropezar. Ese es el verdadero sentido de la masculinidad.
Para ser verdaderos hombres, hemos de imitar al Cordero sin mancha, el sacrificio perfecto que fue, a su vez, el hombre perfecto.
There are two animals that possess a great symbolic richness and which I will use to explain the true meaning of manhood. The first one of them is, it seems, the perfect symbol of virility: the lion. In the image of the lion we find all the virtues that are considered necessary in an ideal man: courage, strength, authority. The lion is the perfect example of an alpha-male: we usually imagine him as a powerful warrior whose roar inspires fear and respect among all others (and it's mane also adds a touch of manliness). The second animal, the lambs, represents the exact opposite. It is not an aggresive animal, nor is it strong. It is passive and meek. It is weak and dependent and we usually associate it with a lack of will.
If we ask any man which of these two animals would he prefer to represent himself he would probably answer that he prefers the lion. This is what our culture has sold us ever since we were young. However, this same culture doesn't teach us how to be like the symbolic lion, but it teaches us to be like the real lion instead: a lazy, irresponsible and selfish animal, who leaves the hunting effort to the lionesses but who eats first and doesn't share.
The most evident proof of this reality is to be found in the “man-child”. A man-child is the useless man, the eternal dependent. A very common type of man-child is the one that, despite being an adult, still lives with his parents, playing videogames and watching cartoons all day long. If he has a job, it's a mediocre one which renders him incapable of sustaining himself and less incapable of sustaining others. He is equally incapable of any form of sacrifice, because for him comfort is all that matters. In his mind, everyone exists to serve him. This kind of “man” has become very common in Japan and Europe and is quickly spreading throughout the West. It is very probable that all man-child imagines himself as a lion and not as a lamb.
As can be seen, the image that we have of ourselves or of these animals is not what matters. Reality is what matters. What can we learn from the reality of the lamb? In the first place, we can learn that it is an animal whose wool is used to protect us from the cold and whose meat can be used as our food. It has also been considered an animal worthy of being used as a sacrifice to the gods. In a few words, it is an animal that has served for our material and spiritual well-being. While the lion has nothing useful for others, the entire being of the lamb exists to serve. That is the ideal to which men should aspire.
The vocation of men is service. It is to provide the material and spiritual well-being of a family, even when that means leaving aside their own comfort. They are called to provide warmth and food to their wife and children, even when they have to abandon their personal well-being. They lead their family spiritually, not as a priest, but as the victims of the sacrifice. It is through their sacrifice that their family will come closer to God. They go ahead because they are preparing the way, removing all obstacles for their loved ones. That is the true meaning of manhood.
In order to become real men, we must imitate the Lamb without blemish, the perfect sacrifice who was, at the same time, the perfect Man.
2 comentarios:
I think your description of the "man-child" is correct, and I also think that this problem is not bad only in its extremities-- that is, a man doesn't necessarily have to be living with his parents to fail at his duty to provide. In my opinion, even just one of these elements (i.e., excessive video game playing) signals a potential downfall as a man.
I think these are awesome insights, and I wish all males could be this aware. As a woman, I thank you for having the courage to call your fellow men to duty!
I totally agree with you. I just used that example because it's becoming ever more common. They even have a special name for them in Japan, but I can't remember what it is. Anyway, there are many other types of men-children around, and some of them are quite "manly", at least in appearance.
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