Comment 1:
When monkey was given the name ‘wake-to-vacuity’ at the end of chapter 1, the name showed how monkey had the perfection characteristic of action. He always took action right away. He knew early on in the chapter that he was more than the others. This is shown through the quote, “When suddenly the stone monkey leaped out from the crowd. He answered the challenge with a loud voice. ‘I’ll go in! I’ll go in!’” (426). Other monkeys were thinking about running through the waterfall to become king, however the stone monkey took action and right away showed his dominance and superiority to the other monkeys. When he became unhappy with his faith he wanted to change it. He did not ever think to just be upset about this and not change it. Instead he took this into his own hands and started his long journey to the immoral mountains. He’s long and stressful journey showed how determined and how fearless monkey was. Therefore, once he found it, he desired nothing else. His new name fit him very nicely. He was empty, he had let go of everything else and was able to devote himself fully into this journey. Monkey recognized his own emptiness. This was shown in the quote, “At nebula’s first clearing there was no name; Smashing stubborn vacuity requires wake-to-vacuity” (436). He was awoken from his everyday life and into the emptiness and the clarity that allows him to become immortal and live a better, fuller, and richer spiritual life. He needed to be free of his stubbornness and his selfishness in order to completely find peace in his life. Which is what the journey ultimately did for him. It shed him of the ignorance he once had and turned it into clarity and knowledge.
-Kelly Kay
Comment 2:
Monkey King was destined to find immortality. He knew he was the chosen one and couldn’t let his fellow monkeys down. He knew he had to take action and go on this heroic journey. He also took action in getting acknowledgement and from the monkeys as being Monkey king when he says “why don’t you honor me as your king?’’ The monkeys immediately folded their hands and bowed down in order to show respect. He also sat at the head of the table which showed he took action in acquiring his respect for his title whereas the other monkeys sat below. Monkey also didn’t let any obstacle get in the way of him finishing his journey. This can be shown when Monkey King abandons the raft and he stole clothes from a human. He imitated the way humans acted just so he can find the way for eternal youth.
-Gagandeep Kaur