Analysis Of 'On Balance'

Oscar Wilde wrote in A Woman of No Importance, “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess”. We go through life, blissfully unaware of the strong presence of excess all around us. Excess, is everywhere. On a daily basis we are either directly or indirectly confronted with excesses of wealth and of poverty, of greed, of violence, of food, of alcohol and of drugs, of religious belief, and so on. Adam Phillips, the author of “On Balance”, affirms that even inspiration, falling in love, experiences of conversion, along with the most radical transformations that can occur in a human life, are traditionally overwhelming, excessive experiences. Cultural criticism of the last two decades suggests that the current century has been particularly

Nothing makes us more repulsed and loathing, as well as captivated, excited and in awe than other people 's extortionate desire for food, alcohol, wealth, beauty, and violence. We become frightened and furious over extreme dedication to political ideologies or religious beliefs. While we have yet to stop and think about our own and other people 's excessive behaviours and desires, they reveal to us, that we are, or have become, excessive animals. I use the term “animals” because our excessiveness is a beastial quality, it has led us to inadvertently believe that excessive behaviour is the rule, the normal

The contemporary societies in which we live are built upon the notion that excess is good. As members of these societies influenced by this concept every day, we have become impervious to the idea that excess is not always good, in fact it can be quite bad. We all know someone who suffers from an addiction, someone who is living with depression, that millions of people are starving, and a friend who is struggling with an eating disorder, all products of excess. After all, excess is what lead to the great depression. For a decade, money seemed limitless and people believed the boom would never end, causing the excessive spending of money that led up to the devastating economic collapse of the nineteen thirties. Cassandra Clare summarized the problem with excess when she said: “Too much of anything could destroy you. […] Too much darkness could kill, but too much light could blind.” Taking too much of water will wash away the salts the body. Acquiring too much knowledge at an early age will rob you of your innocence and youth and of your ability to enjoy the little things. Too much of love and affection may work against you one day or even the one you love. No need to say excess of beauty attracts danger. Excess of wisdom makes you look weird among