great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Jacqueline:

Our group chose the theme of action to relate to Monkey’s name of Wake- to- Vacuity. From the beginning of the story, it is apparent that Monkey is a creature of action. When his fellows search for the source of the stream, Monkey volunteers to be discover what is on the other side of the waterfall. When Monkey shouts, “’I’ll go in! What a monkey! For today his fame will spread wide,’” it is shown that Monkey is eager to become elevated above the rest of the monkeys. His name of Wake – to – Vacuity hints at the fact that Monkey might be on a long journey towards enlightenment, and his motives for his actions prove this. He demonstrates this theme of action through his decision to set out and find the answer to the group’s mortality problem. As Monkey exclaims, “’Tomorrow I shall leave of you all and go down the mountain. Even if I have to wander with the clouds to the corners of the sea or journey to the distant edges of heaven, I intend to find these three kinds of people,’” it becomes questionable for a second time whether or not Monkey is taking his actions for him or for the others. In each instance, Monkey’s reasoning for action are uncertain, and it seems as though he has a long way to go before he gets to the emptiness, just as his name suggests.

Francesca:

The meaning of action typically means to achieve an aim or to commit an act. As Jacqueline has mentioned, that from the beginning of the story that Monkey seems to be a creature of action. We see this early in the chapter when Monkey takes on his first action. The Monkeys finally find out where the stream takes them to and they say “If any of us had the ability to penetrate the curtain and find out where the water comes from without hurting himself, we would honor him as king.” Monkey then of course is the first to volunteer as Jacqueline described his eagerness, which then helps because he becomes The Handsome Monkey King. As we move further into the chapter, Monkey has decided to take on the action of leaving and going down the mountain to find three people. These people are intended to help him figure out how to become immortal. As Monkey begins his journey, Monkey is brought to “The Mountain of Mind and Heart”, where he meets an immortal by the name of Patriarch Subodhi. Subodhi eventually gives Monkey a new name. “You will hence be given the religious name ‘Wake-to-vacuity’ (wukong). All right?”. The name ‘Wake-to-vacuity’ I believe connects with the theme of action because once Monkey complete his first task by going into the waterfall he began his journey to enlightenment. Once you find “Vacuity” which is the meaning of emptiness, you have nothing else to do. As Monkey continues to go on this Journey to find these people, he will continue to take action. Once he has found his answer his task is done and all if left is emptiness.

Annie:

We choose the theme of action that suits to Monkey’s name of wake to vacuity. Having action, ones not afraid to do something and that is what we see in monkey. In the beginning we can tell that Monkey is a character that’s above the rest, he is active. The monkeys said “we none of us know where this stream comes from” although they were curious enough to find where the stream goes no one was actually brave enough except Monkey. Exactly how Jacqueline puts it that “Monkey is a creature of action” his first action in the first chapter was when he volunteered to go through the waterfall which led him to become the Monkey King. In the name Wake to Vacuity, like what Francesca said vacuity is the meaning of emptiness and the name itself that Subodhi gave monkey wasn’t just any name, but also religious. The actions of Monkey is very persistent for example he left the waterfall to find how to be immortal, basically he does what he wants. From the text, “to break the stubborn vacuity one needs to wake to vacuity”, Monkey’s actions are at times stubborn and uncertain and as he continues his journey, little by little the emptiness will be filled.