Great literature transcends time because of its inherent qualities: the author has a clear purpose, the author achieves that purpose, and the purpose is a worthwhile one.
Saturday
Discussion Topic #8
In 100 proofed words discuss the reasons for generational conflict. Why does the generation in power attempt to pass along their concept of a worthwhile existance. (Try to relate your discussion to the literature in a meaningful way.)
Adults attempt to pass down their beliefs to children and teenagers for many reasons. Most of the time, I believe, the main reason is to teach those who they feel are less experienced and therefore more likely to make mistakes some of what they themselves have learned. In Death of a Salesman Willy constantly tells Biff what he thinks would be the wisest thing to do. For instance he tells Biff to ask Bill Oliver for $15,000 instead of $10,000. The only problem with this is that, like a lot of adults, because Willy is not living through the situation his understanding of it is greatly flawed. Biff knows that Bill Oliver won’t give him the money. This is shown when he comes up with reasons why it wouldn’t work, but instead of letting it go, his family builds him up and convinces him that it will work. This sort of a thing creates generational conflict because now, not only does the child/teenager resent being told what is best all the time and prevented from using their own judgment but when what they are told is flawed they then refuse to listen to the adults at all. And once the child/teenager begins ignoring what the adults tell them the adults become annoyed and/or hurt over the whole thing. For instance Willy is greatly hurt and upset that Biff was not becoming a salesman and was instead supposedly working with his hands out west. And this blow to the adults leads to even more generational conflict because they try to give more advice and it just keeps getting rejected.
Passing information from generation to generation is a genetic necessity which predates history. Some say songs (eg.the Illiad) began as a way to transfer knowledge. Oral tradition is another example. Parents teach their children because they must. In Death of a Salesman we see this genetic mainstay in operation. Henry Miller uses this ancient modality to shed light on the absurdity of the current status quo. Culture has declared war on biology. Our bodies and souls become the battleground. Thus, a few thousand years ago the major religions formed which embraced suffering as the norm. People walk around with outdated capital punishment/torture devices around their neck and "life is suffering". Each generation is biologically programmed to pass information onward. Domestication has been rammed down our throats for thousands of years. Conform to the norm from the day you or born...
2 comments:
Adults attempt to pass down their beliefs to children and teenagers for many reasons. Most of the time, I believe, the main reason is to teach those who they feel are less experienced and therefore more likely to make mistakes some of what they themselves have learned. In Death of a Salesman Willy constantly tells Biff what he thinks would be the wisest thing to do. For instance he tells Biff to ask Bill Oliver for $15,000 instead of $10,000. The only problem with this is that, like a lot of adults, because Willy is not living through the situation his understanding of it is greatly flawed. Biff knows that Bill Oliver won’t give him the money. This is shown when he comes up with reasons why it wouldn’t work, but instead of letting it go, his family builds him up and convinces him that it will work.
This sort of a thing creates generational conflict because now, not only does the child/teenager resent being told what is best all the time and prevented from using their own judgment but when what they are told is flawed they then refuse to listen to the adults at all. And once the child/teenager begins ignoring what the adults tell them the adults become annoyed and/or hurt over the whole thing. For instance Willy is greatly hurt and upset that Biff was not becoming a salesman and was instead supposedly working with his hands out west. And this blow to the adults leads to even more generational conflict because they try to give more advice and it just keeps getting rejected.
Passing information from generation to generation is a genetic necessity which predates history. Some say songs (eg.the Illiad) began as a way to transfer knowledge. Oral tradition is another example. Parents teach their children because they must. In Death of a Salesman we see this genetic mainstay in operation. Henry Miller uses this ancient modality to shed light on the absurdity of the current status quo. Culture has declared war on biology. Our bodies and souls become the battleground. Thus, a few thousand years ago the major religions formed which embraced suffering as the norm. People walk around with outdated capital punishment/torture devices around their neck and "life is suffering". Each generation is biologically programmed to pass information onward. Domestication has been rammed down our throats for thousands of years. Conform to the norm from the day you or born...
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