The choices individuals make in their lives are driven by needs and wants and are dependent on the individual and vary, based on the individual’s motive. It is typically human nature to want to be accepted, successful, physically attractive, etc. While these characteristics may be a priority to some and considered a “want”, others may approach obtaining acceptance, success, or physical attraction on a basis of “need”. The difference between whether something is a need or a want determines how and why an individual chooses to accomplish something. The choice to behave a certain way is driven by whether something is a need or a want. For example, some people choose to work a lot because they want to have a lot of money, the status of being …show more content…
In the short story, “The Golden Touch” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, King Midas was obsessed with money. Midas became so consumed with the precious gold material in which he loved dearly, that he refused to touch anything that was not gold. However, the king was never satisfied with the amount of gold he had and he always craved more. One day he wished for the one thing that will finally satisfy him. “ My only wish is for gold. I wish all that I touched would turn to gold," (Hawthorne). Initially, the king was so joyful that everything turned to gold as he touched it. He felt as if he was the luckiest person ever, with this golden touch that he had been granted. However, with this touch comes consequences; his food turned to gold, not allowing him to eat it, his robe turns gold and stiff, not allowing him to wear it, and finally his daughter turns to gold as he touches her. King Midas had turned his own daughter into a gold statue all because of his lust for gold. The king’s obsession over gold, which he once saw as a blessing is now a curse. He begs Bacchus, the one who granted his initial wish, to reverse it and Bacchus complies. The king learns of how his greed for gold and riches got the best of him; for he will never take his possessions for granted