Waiting for Goffman

Is Goffman a cynic? Of course, most realists are, however, the extent to which this cynicism appears callous derives from the nature of writing a persuasive book. A funeral, a wedding, and a birthday party are all performances to a certain extent, even those who are the "actors" would likely concede this point. However, the performance aspect, that which portrays the actors' love for their deceased friend, married couple, or aging relative, is only part of a larger celebration of life or selfless expression of love that is inherent in the human psyche.

It is possible that I misunderstand Goffman to some extent, but for every person who goes to a funeral or other event of mourning or celebration, there are at least to driving forces to their attendance and interaction. The first, though not necessarily the most important, is Goffman's theory of presenting a social front of mourning, love, or happiness to show those around your care for the soul in question. However, the stronger force at work here is a more pure one; it is the innate human will to be caring, and hence to visit the deceased, celebrate with the wedded, and acknowledge the passage of time along with aging companions. This personal desire to do good, even if no one is watching, is something that Goffman overlooks (though social Darwinist theorists have often struggled with it).

So there is something rather cynical about how Goffman presents his material, but, as I stated before, he has a reason: in writing a persuasive piece, it is not his prerogative, but rather that of the reader, to study the alternatives to his theories that are not in direct conflict. As Goffman has not mentioned what I have earlier, neither has he exactly refuted it. The cynicism of human nature lies in a certain degree of absence in discussion thereabout.