Rachel's Paideia Blog

Tuesdays With Morrie

I had actually tried to read this book aloud with a friend a few years ago, kind of as a joke, but gave up after the first few chapters. I found it amusing when this book was assigned to us because my impression was that it was sappy and, frankly, kind of dull. I have to admit, the style of writing bothered me a lot at the beginning--this pseudo-sentimental stuff coming from a guy who is very obviously a sports writer. It simply isn't literature, and I guess it's been a while since I've read anything else. So I was a pessimist from the start.
But then I got into it. I realized that the message here was maybe a little deeper than "good writing," which, believe me, is something very hard for me to say. I guess it was so simplistic because it's meant to be sort of universal, and it actually was.
I was surprised to find that I actually agreed with a lot of Morrie's philosophies, and like to think that I am working harder on making meaningful connections with people in my life since reading this book. There were, however, some things that really bothered me. For one, Morrie's distaste for materialism at all, it seemed. To me, someone's possessions are a really good projection of who they are and what they love, not the result of the lack of love. I also hated his aphorism "When you're in bed, you're dead," because I read the entire from my bed and am a dedicated nap-taker. I guess it made sense to some degree, because what can you possibly be experiencing in life from bed?, but I was still a little offended by it.
Other quotations were very moving to me, such as "Death ends a life, not a relationship." I liked this one a lot because it affirmed a belief I think I've had for a long time that loving relationships are the greatest thing in the word, and made me feel like I am doing something right in the way I lead my life by trying to dedicate a lot of myself to those I love. I thought it also related to our cohort and the idea of "understanding human behavior" because it assumes that people are truly able to impact one another on a very deep level. And obviously interaction between humans is a very, very integral part of understanding human behavior.
The topic of death is likewise an important topic of discussion for our cohort's subject--the way a person views and deals with the inevitable prospect of death says a great deal about them, how the view things, and their behavior in general.
One of my favorite moments in the book was when Morrie decided to hold a "living funeral" for myself. I've decided I want the same done for myself when I'm ready to die. Which actually brings me to another idea: I like to think that at some point I will be satisfied with my life and, in some way, look forward to death. Or at least to embrace it. I feel like that is entirely possible and hope to conduct my life with that idea in mind. Eventually I will be done, and I think that will be a very good feeling.

posted by Rachel @ 7:53 PM