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

Journey to the West, Chapter 1: Wake-to-Vacuity

Thank-you all for your perceptive and (often) thought provoking comments!   Please read over my response, as I have pointed to the more salient responses.  These responses will help you as we continue reading, and will also help to guide your essay writing and midterm exam.

A few of you point to the validity of Monkey’s quest.

Indeed, Monkey has “midlife crisis” (Jamie) which is funny but absolutely valid, because we must ask ourselves (as we asked ourselves in class) if Monkey’s quest for immortality is, indeed, the right quest. If there is an “emptiness” (Muneeb’s term, and this is a great word to use, in light of your assignment) in his life, then it is important that he acknowledges that emptiness. A question: what is Monkey filling that emptiness with? Also, it is important that Monkey leave his comfort zone (as for us, too) but again, when is something stifling our growth or nurturing it?

Some of you also point to a positive trait of Monkey, and that is his fortitude and willingness to act. Action is very important, and as you continue reading, be very attentive to see if Monkey’s actions are always the right ones. And yes, whether or not Monkey will succeed in his quest, the name Wake-to-Vacuity does seem to indicate that Monkey is (whether he realizes it right now or not) on the path to Enlightenment (Jacqueline; Francesca). As well, as Annie mentions, one needs “to break the suborn vacuity” (where Monkey is now?) in order to “wake” to vacuity, or Enlightenment.   Action is important, of course, but Aly wonders if “Monkey is all about action.”   This is an interesting point, and one we will consider in class, and Jorge M. points out that it is actually difficult to determine in he has been acting viably or not. Preston feels positive about Monkey’s actions, and says Monkey wants to “impact the world.” This is very possibly true, and we need to follow him closely in the rest of the narrative.

Generosity is also an important trait to embody, in order to reach Enlightenment, and Katerina suggests that Monkey has shown this when he decides to go through the waterfall and go on the quest for immortality, as she feels he does this, essentially, for the other Monkeys.

Wisdom: Joseph; Keauna; Bintou

This group made some interesting comments about Monkey and wisdom. On the one hand, he does seem to lack wisdom, in his inability to accept both death, and the responsibility for one’s others. As well, this group asks, is Monkey truly and viably active, or just restless?   On the other hand, as this group (Bintou) points out, does Monkey show aspects of wisdom, when he leaves his comfortable life to find more meaning?

Wisdom: Maria; Nicole; Tara

This group starts off by making a very important comment (Maria) that “to be wise is not only to be smart bu understand what will make the journey to Enlightenment successful.”   Yes, the fact that Monkey is asking questions is very positive. Does he do this enough?   Nicole points out that Monkey recognizes the meaninglessness of his life (or at least he feels it’s meaningless) and this is also very important, because one large question in this text is: what makes our lives meaningful?   And, yes, as Tara points out, Monkey does seem to dismiss the Woodcutter’s life immediately.

Wisdom:   Songyun; Susanna; Jiwoo; Daphne

This group points out that wisdom can be seen in various areas: his willingness to grow his knowledge base and have other experiences; his desire to connect to something more spiritual (and we’ll look at this further, to see if that really is one of his goals); to strive for “infinity” (Daphne’s interesting word) that wisdom is essentially a continual process and not a goal. nd is this what Monkey has been thinking, that his search is a goal and not a process, and is that the true quest or not?

Patience: Onu; Fahran; Joaquin

This group points out that Monkey certainly shows patience in that he has spent, apparently tireless, years on his journey (Onu; Joquin). It is interesting that Fahran points out that determination is also a kind of patience, which I think is quite a valid comment. It will be interesting to see if Monkey continues to be patient, during the rest of his journey.