In a way, temptations define people as much as their character, courage, or abilities do. It's revealing to understand what makes someone bend and sway, and what they resist and stop. There's a whole lot of stories told about the ravages of temptation and the crawling away from it, or the opposite where it doesn't end as well. However it's used, we all understand temptation and if we can get into the character's viewpoint we can understand the reasons and motivations.
It's often said that tests and trials are the fires that refine us. In the great epic of the Odyssey, our hero and his men are forced to pass by an island inhabited by the mythical sirens. It is said that their song is so rapturous that sailors would drive their ships into the rocks just to get closer to hear more. In the story, Odysseus has himself tied to the mast (while his sailors plug their ears with wax) so that he can hear the siren's song. It's interesting to note that he allowed himself to succumb to temptation but denied himself the ability to act upon it. Kind of like the old expression of having your cake and eating it too (which is a confusing concept until you realize it only means if you eat your cake you will no longer have it to hold).
Temptations, whether characters search them out or are suddenly confronted by them, are a catalyst for new directions and explorations. Depending on the story, it may very well be the main crisis the character faces. And if we are talking about real life, it's something we deal with constantly--maybe even on a daily basis. However it's used, temptation isn't something taken lightly. It's a powerful source of tension.
- M
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