Subject: Re: Rites of passage
From: Bruce Hartman (bwhartmanjr@iname.com)
Date: Mon Jun 16 1997 - 12:04:19 GMT
Jon (and other Bananas),
> > I too am searching. Stuck in mythology right
> > now...loving everything Joseph Campbell....Wondering if Holden's
> > unequipped journey couldn't be a tragic reflection of society's
> > seemingly confident dismissal of ritual, rites of passage.
>
> I haven't gotten around to reading Campbell yet (I plan to), but I have
> read a lot about our society's lack of rites to mark the passage into
> adulthood -- and I must say, respectfully, I have some doubts. Holden is
> an excellent test case, however, and I will be interested to hear other
> people's opinions.
Robert Bly's "Iron John" is a great book concerning the disappearance of
the "Passage to Manhood" in western Society. If you haven't already read
it, go get it.
As far as doubting the dismissal of the ROP from modern society, I'd have
to take you to task on that. Holden, as real as he may seem, is a
character in a work of fiction. I'm not sure what in CITR you would
consider as a rite. A young man, on his own, in the middle of New York,
who ultimately has a mental breakdown. Is this what our adolescents have
to look forward to in life? I hope not.
> I might be nice to have some ritual rite of passage in our society, but
my
> question is this: exactly what are we passing *into*? In other words,
> what does it mean to be an adult in our society? I usually associate
> adulthood with having a "serious" career, buying houses and cars, raising
> children, perhaps -- but I have serious problems with the way we go about
> all these activities. When someone says, "Behave like an adult," it
> usually means something like, "Be more concerned about material things,"
> or, "Stop having fun and doing what *you* want to do."
I see where you're coming from, but I have to disagree. I don't think
adulthood has anymore to do with materialistic things than childhood does
with the opposite. The ROP, in days gone by, wasn't about being an adult,
it was about being a member of a society. It was about being responsible,
which, in my opinion, is a far cry from what many of today's "adults"
consider being an adult.
We live in an extremely fragmented society. There is rarely any
connection between people. I can go through a day with out making eye
contact with a single person, and that's not because I hide my eyes.
People don't know how to relate to each other. Simply say hello to someone
the next time your at a department store and watch for their reaction. . .
many times it's a strange befuddlement. . . "What, hello? What do you mean
by that? What are you trying to say?"
> So I don't think Holden is lacking a rite of passage. What he lacks,
> rather, is faith that passing into adulthood is a good thing. He sees
how
> phony and cold adults can be, and he doesn't want to join that particular
> club. He doesn't see a place for himself in the adult world; he can only
> imagine himself standing at the cliff marking the end of childhood,
> catching kids if they stray too close to it too soon. The *last* thing
he
> wants, it seems, is to be told, "You're an adult now, Holden."
I see your point again, and this time I agree with you on much of what is
said. But what about this (forgive me if I oversimplify): Adults are the
way they are because the were never taught what they needed to know to BE
an adult. A rite of passage is the first step in that lesson. An ROP is a
connection between the adult and the child, without that connection the
child is doomed to the fate of it's parents. Myself, I'm lucky enough to
have parents who taught (and continue to teach) me things, they interact
with me, they take responsibility for their actions and act responsibly to
begin with. I've known what was expected of me, meaning, I know what it is
to be polite, to respect my elders, not lie, cheat, steal, etc. . . Today,
their are too many examples of the opposite, and often enough it's the
parents themselves who are providing the example.
Let's not relegate our future's to the trash heap because we are too
listless to attempt a change.
> Looking forward to opposing viewpoints,
As well as am I.
Best to all,
Bruce
bwhartmanjr@iname.com
http://www.geocities.com/~tranestation
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