Failed Libertines

Written by Michael Lee in 2007.

There are five types of failed libertine.

The first type of failed libertine is unable (or unwilling) to achieve his aims, such as to bed the person he fancies, or to conquer a certain number or type of persons based on his constraints and/or criteria. The main obstacle for him is a mismatch between aspirations, abilities and strategy. We may call this failure an Underperformer, if not a Nonperformer.

The second category gets physically harmed - or even dies - from the process, which hampers the continuance of regular decadence, whether by contracting venereal diseases or getting killed or scarred by acid hurled at him by his spurned lover of his lover's lover. The problem here is insufficient care of the self. This one we call Reckless.

The third: a failure in life anyway, whether a libertine or not. What he badly needs is a basic sense of reality. The common term for him is a Delusionist.

The fourth kind realises in the process that he is not cut out for decadence, due to certain external or internal conditions. For instance, he may not have the financial means to support a carefree life. Or, he is easily struck by liberal guilt and so is unable to fully enjoy what he thought would delight him. For him, self-awareness is a lifetime's work. We can call this one a Loser.

The fifth falls in love. He's Most Pathetic.