We definitely know the fun children's party game of musical chairs. The game we played as kids at basically every birthday party we attended, mostly before we eat our party jollof, served in a variety of colored plastic plates.
I was thinking about this game recently, coupled with my knack for wanting to see the symbolism in the most basic things. Then I thought; what if it was more than just a mere children's party game. What if there is a symbolism to be taken from this game. What if the game of musical chairs, is a representation of our struggles and quest for success in the society. Let me explain.
First of all, the basics of the game. Each player has to dance around an uneven number of chairs, and vie for a seating position; once the music stops, beating other competitors in the process. Whoever fails to secure a chair, is out of the game. And the game resets itself, and the number of chairs reduced. So, what is the relation with our society?
The uneven number of players to the chairs (if there are 8 players, there would be 7 chairs), mirrors how we always struggle and compete for limited resources and opportunities. It is a fact of life, opportunities are limited, insufficient for the people chasing them. The gifts of nature, are few and depleted, compared to the human population. It is always a constant struggle, a battle of the fittest. For example, a company which aims to fill five vacant positions, would get hundreds of applications. The odds are mostly always unkind. Only the sharpest, fittest and sometimes, the most cunning, gets secures his spot. It has and would always be this way; that is just reality.
Just like how the game resets with lesser chairs as it progresses, success in life gets tougher as we progress. Opportunities and the chance of success keeps on reducing, and we have to adjust. The journey gets harder, the higher we climb; our odds gets less favourable. And we have to fend off threats in the form of other competitors. The weak links would keep being cut out, as we move. But we cannot quit. It's a continuous cycle, perhaps which is why players move in circular motions during the game.
One may ask; 'what about the music?'. Well, I think that is a symbolism of the good times, and bouts of happiness we experience, as we strive for success. We do not go through life, with a permanent scowl on our faces after all. But just like the music in the game, these moments of joy may also serve as a distraction to us. We would have to maintain focus, if we wish to progress. Enjoy yourself a while, but be attentive, so as not to be caught up in the moment. Like the players in the game, you have to know when to make your move.
I would like to know your thoughts on this though. Am I overthinking? Or am I on to something?