Hannah Jaffe
UNIV 112: Unit 1 Essay
Feb 11, 2015
Galileo Galilei once said, “Passion is the genesis of genius.” If that is true than
how is it possible that a guide as brilliant as passion could initiate a path with negative
consequences? Passion in itself is a positive drive but how we handle our pursuits can
ultimately lead o obsession, which implies a more negative connotation. As you pursue
your own ambitions, perhaps your dream career or a potential lover, how are you
supposed to realize when your passions have transitioned into obsessions? The transition
to obsession is evident when our pursuits ask us to question our morals or demand a
unbalanced lifestyle.
This transition is evident through the passionate pursuit of scientific discovery in
the character of Marie Curie in the book Radioactive by Lauren Redniss. This story
portrays a tale of love while incorporating the scientific achievements of Marie and Pierre
Curie. Through out the book Marie Curie allows her scientific endeavors to be the
building blocks for her relationships and for her career which eventually leads her to an
adulterous affair. Originally, Marie found success when incorporating her love of science
simultaneously into her career and personal relationship with Pierre. Rediness expresses
this serendipitous love affair through Pierre, “ He saw a woman who would not fetter his
scientific ambitions but rather act as a collaborator, muse, and guide” (33). In this
instance, Pierre has found that his passion for science and his strong desire for love can
both be satisfied in his new relationship with Marie. As Pierre solidified his attachment to
Marie, Marie smltaneously grew an attachment to Pierre, “She wrote to a friend ‘It is a
sorrow for me to have to stay forever in Paris, but what am I to do? Fate has made us
deeply attached to each other and we cannot endure the idea of separating’ (33) Although
this relationship with Pierre has brought Marie many new positive attributes, it has also
secluded her from her hometown which forces her to be separated from close friends and
her family. In Marie’s willingness to stay in Paris rather than return to her hometown of
Poland she exemplifies the small tragedy of following her passions. This scenario brings
forth the forever present force of balance within all situations.
As the story continues, Marie and Pierre begin to share a fulfilling relationship
and successful careers, “Two years and two months into their marriage, Marie gave birth
to a six pound baby girl. They named her Ire’ne… The young couple returned to the lab”
(38-41). The couple continued to exercise their scientific endeavors and began their
journey into making the monumental discoveries of radium and polonium, “What was the
structure of the atom? Clearly energy was suspended within in it. Could the energy be
harnessed? To Mari, ‘It was obvious that a new science was in the course of
development.’ Marie:’I coined the term radioactivity”(44). This first discovery allowed
Marie and Pierre to win the noble prize. Pursuing her passions Marie was able to find a
fulfilling relationship and a successful career she was the first woman in France to
receive a doctorate and the first woman to receive a noble prize (72-73). However,
allowing marie’s scientific endeavors to be the foundation of her love life and her career
presented a great hardship as well. After Pierre’s death, Marie became infactuated with
Paul Langevin who was described as being, “Brilliant: acclaimed for an ingenious thesis
on ionized gases. He was daring: he scaled he Eiffel Tower to find the purest possible air
for a study of electric currents in the atmosphere… who wouldn’t rejoice in the union of
Paul and Marie—a coupling of giants? His wife” (125-127). This affair was built upon
the foundation of science. Although their shared passion brought them together it also
tore them apart. Marie had become a well known public figure, “Papers had announced
that Marie Curie had won another noble prize, this time in chemistry. Not only was she
the first woman to receive a noble prize, but now she was poised to become the first
person, man or woman, to win it twice”(132). At the same time Marie had been awarded
her second noble prize, proof of her affair erupted in the papers. This accusation caused
trouble within Maries private life and her career, “I beg you to stay in France; no one can
calculate what might happen here… I hope therefore you will telegraph… That it is
impossible for you to come to the 10th of December next and that you will write after this
a letter saying that you do not wish to accept the prize before the Langevin trial shows
that the accusations about you are absolutely without foundation” (133). The pursuit of
passion in this instance almost cost Marie her career and despite the similarity of
scientific passions had not made plausible grounds for a relationship. Marie had directed
her scientific passions correctly the first time but had allowed them to overcome her
better judgement the second time.
Similarly to Marie, I have experienced negative consequences as my own passion
shifted into an obsession. Marie Curie and I both share a passion that encompasses the art
of science. Throughout my life I have been aware of my interest in art but I was also
aware of the fact that I wanted to pursue interests outside of my artistic career. Trying to
discover a career that enveloped y growing interest in forensic science and anthropology
originally seemed impossible, especially due to my distinct characteristic as an artist.
However, when I was accepted into Virginia Commonwealth University my doubts about
finding a fulfilling career were solved. As I was touring the communication arts building
I heard the chair of the department talking about the medical illustration pathway offered
in the communication arts major. This quickly caught my attention. I learned that medical
illustration was a career that incorporated biology and illustration. This program gave
students the skills to potentially work as forensic illustrators for crime and scenes,
medical text books, and so much more. Looking around at the small renovated
communications building in the center of Richmond Virginia I realized that this was
exactly what I was looking for. Since Virginia Commonwealth University is the only
school in the country that offers undergraduate medical illustration, my decision was
made.
Similarly to Marie Curie, the origin of my passion was placed far away from my
hometown. I knew that I was about to move away from California and into a state where I
would be secluded from my family and friends. Following my passion presented a
consequence but it also offered me numorous opportunities that I would not have found
elsewhere. Since moving to Virginia I have found a job in the school of the arts as a tour
guide and office assistant for the Dean, I was selected to be a part of the undergraduate
gallery committee, I have joined a Honors society, and I have found a way to incorporate
my passion for art and science. However, the most notable positive attribute I
experienced was the ability to incorporate anthropology into my career. At first I
struggled with this concept. It seemed almost impossible to incorporate my interest of
anthropology into the career of medical illustration. Despite my doubts, one day after
class I spoke to my anthropology teacher, Autumn Barrett, who explained that,
“Anthropologists are always seeking out artist, especially medical illustrators, for
numorous things such as forensic reconstruction and site reconstruction.” Finding out that
I could incorporate everything into my desired career was the most outstanding reward
for following my passions. Despite my own doubt and the seemingly impossible career
goals, I received an excessive amount of positive fulfillment in pursuing my interests.
However, knowing what I wanted to pursue the moment I entered college did
have negative consequences. I remained so focused on school, work, and my extracurricular activities that I began to entirely neglect my personal life. It was easy to do,
seeing that I didn’t know anyone in the entire state. This unhealthy obsession with my
passion lead me to become anxious, lonely, and ultimately entirely unhappy. Although I
was pursuing everything I had ever dreamed of, I had insufficient relationships with the
people in Virginia. All my close friends and family were in California and I had not tried
to create any new friendships in my new home. When I went back to California for break,
I realized how much I had missed having close friends and how much I desired to further
develop my friendships in Virginia. While in the car with my mom I broke down and
explained how unhappy and lonely I felt despite all of the accomplishments I had made.
My mother listened then said, “ I think you should start going to counseling and give
yourself a break.” Although she as proud of my success she was more concerned with my
happiness. Realizing how estranged I had become from my personal life pushed me to
incorporate a more balanced approach when pursuing my passions. I started seeing a
counsler and making time for yoga at least once a week. I have also deepened my
relationships with my friends while beginning to seek out more new friendships. Taking
small steps like these have already begun to provide me with amore fulfilling personal
life. Allowing myself to have limits within my passionate endeavors has given me the
opportunity to proceed with my interests and build upon my private life.
The existence of passion within our lives is fundamentally a positive force, which
can pave the way for success and happiness. However, presenting our passions as the
foundation for all aspects of life can ultimately lead to obsession. Both Marie and I found
success in our professional lives and we both allowed our personal lives to suffer. Marie
initially found success when she traveled to Paris and incorporated her love for science
simultaneously into her career and her personal relationship with Pierre. I found success
similarly to Marie when I traveled to Virginia allowing me o incorporate my love of art,
science, and anthropology into a single career. When Marie became infactuated with Paul
Langevin the affair was also built upon the foundation of science which was the origin of
Marie’s passion. Although this relationship with Paul held the powerful driving force of
scientific similarities it was a moral corruption which almost destroyed Marie’s Career.
In my quest of career oriented opportunities I allowed my personal life and happiness to
suffer.
My obsession with obtaining my goals and Marie’s obsession with including her
passion in all her life pursuits are examples of what begins to blur the lines between
passion and obsession. Marie and I differ in the circumstances that allowed us to lose
control in the pursuit of our aspirations. Marie tied her infatuation if science to her
unethical personal pursuits while I entirely ignored my individual desires and needs. The
objects of our obsessions held positive implications but they evoked negative actions.
Passion in itself is a positive drive but how we handle our pursuits can ultimately lead to
obsession which implies a more negative connotation. This evokes the question of how
do we surrender to our passions while maintaining control? In these instances, it was not
until our obsessions were evident as our own aspirations. It is essential to recognize when
our ambitions are characterized by the absence rather than the presence of positive
attributes. The beginning of obsession should ultimately arouse the need to incorporate
balance into our passionate pursuits.