According to Thomas Aquinas Charity is symbolic of the friendship between Man and God. The view is that traditionally it involved ‘love of God, and love of man’ respectively, with the notion being that there is an element of piety to it along with something of the traditional virtue of ‘Pity’ to it of sorts. The notion of Charity is linked to love, and the ideal of ‘love thy neighbour’.
A good example in modern art of a character personifying the virtue of Charity is that of King Arthur in the 1998 Merlin miniseries, where he is desperate to push this virtue forward, guaranteeing justice for all, fairness and pity to the lowest members of society. Unfortunately for him, his generosity is taken advantage of, as in the classic tales and his kingdom is destroyed.
The truth is Charity is about helping others, the ideal is to be generous to a fault, helping those around oneself not simply financially (though that plays a role in some cases) but mostly in the sharing of one’s good fortune with another. Sharing not only one’s food or money when it is called for, but for example helping out another in difficulty by seeking to help that person with their burden, with their struggle and so on.
In some ways Charity can be a little collectivist in nature, but though too much collectivism is bad (just as too much individuality can lead to narcissism), the ideal is one that is meant to also be according to Aquinas to friendship. The notion being that a true friend is truly generous and shares.
That said Charity ought to be extended even to one’s enemies, so that there is an element of honour to it. Though, it must be said many enemies wouldn’t return the sentiment as Aquinas ends up noting along with the notion that there is an element of benevolence to Charity.
So where self-discipline is the key to Chastity in the last article, with Charity it seems to be generosity and friendship. Though, if I may one should remember never compromise oneself too much, as you cannot help another if it’ll harm yourself, but the notion seems to be that so long as it doesn’t damage your own situation permanently one should help another.
Let’s get to writing, as this is also a writing blog. The truth of the matter is that a good example of a Charitable character is Hercules from Legendary Journeys; he is keen to help others out of pity for them, keen to protect them from Hera and just friendly over-all. The truth is that it isn’t simply passing cash around to everyone, but lending a hand to those in need, offering support when they need it and lending a helping hand. There’s also for those lovers of video-games Terra or Auron who have this as a principal virtue, when they take in other people’s kids.
For those who are book-worms one should consider Quincy Morris the greatest Texan in literature (yeah I’m biased sue me), and super-cowboy extraordinaire is the embodiment not only of a chivalric knight but also of Charity. He loved Lucy, only to give blood for her, helps support Arthur through his grief at the loss of Lucy, and then helps save Mina, and even gives his life for her and Jonathan. And why did he do all this? Not because he was a ‘simp’ as some like to call him, but because he embodies the old values, because ‘it was the right thing to do’. Honestly, he’s one of the best characters in fiction. And he’s got a great name, I mean c’mon it doesn’t come much better than ‘Quincy’ (if you’re living in the great state of Texas, do your son a favour and name him Quincy).
You know another great character who embodies this virtue is Dr. Seward Trainer from Spider-Man, when Ben Reilly was on his last leg and about ready to commit suicide due to all the evil Jackal & Kaine had inflicted upon him, Seward saves him, restores him to health and has this great line about how; ‘All Men at some point need a helping hand…’
Great scene, and it should be the motto for a charitable character. Remember Charity also doesn’t make the character weak, but strong. It takes strength after all to help another, to give something of oneself to them. It takes courage to be a Quincy Morris, and that’s all I’ve got for you all on this virtue, as Charity shouldn’t be one of the flashier virtues but it is one of the more important ones and hard to pin down I think.