11.22.09
Sick After Mann
[ What Mika would call "Thoughts in Sickness" ;-) ]
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How queer that I began to get sick the moment I finished reading The Magic Mountain. Disease and illness, physical and spiritual, features paramountly in the book; although the same is true in other works of Mann that I have read (Death in Venice, Doktor Faustus).Yet even though I have fatigue, chills, fever, watery eyes, extremely discomforting right-side hemicrania that worsens everytime I attempt to read (not being able to read is what hurts the most), nasal congestion, and fluid pressure coming from my sinuses provoking my upper back teeth to ache, I assure loved ones that this sickness is “nothing major”. Sinusitis, it is simply an old acquaintance paying me a seasonal visit, but this time, flaunting its exhaustive symptoms. Nonetheless, there is something very sagacious about sickness whether “major” or “minor” if we just bring ourselves to ponder about our conditions.
I purposely avoided being macabre in my reflections on The Magic Mountain but in truth, the line that impinged greatly upon my mind was in the fifth chapter titled “Sudden Enlightenment”: “… for the first time, he understood that he would die.” Besides knowing himself, Hans Castorp’s other great accomplishment is in understanding that one must go through sickness to achieve an elevated mental health. “It is this notion of disease and death as a necessary route to knowledge, health, and life that makes The Magic Mountain a novel of initiation,” Thomas Mann also defines in the afterword – quite Nietzschean in this sense, but I do agree to some extent, and we have also heard something like this being stated from Pascal to Proust.
Don’t you think this is somehow associated to the need of knowing sickness and acknowledging that we are sinners/sickly and not invincible, in order to be redeemed? It is also biblical for one who has sinned much to be forgiven much. While this should not be misconstrued as an encouragement to sin much, the passage also gives us a certain view that those who have experienced much will be rewarded much in a way, just as sheltered lives, no matter how intelligent, will always be lacking in a profounder sort of knowledge. This is also manifested even in great artists.
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It is much distressing to be in this present state but somehow, I cannot be pessimistic about this. Let nature’s cathartic tempering do me good and help me grow… and at least obliterate a contemptible complaining attitude. There is wisdom in being called a “patient”.
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mika said,
November 23, 2009 at 3:53 pm
“he passage also gives us a certain view that those who have experienced much will be rewarded much in a way, just as sheltered lives, no matter how intelligent, will always be lacking in a profounder sort of knowledge.”
hmm, i’ve often wondered on this theme, and i think though those “sheltered” may not always have that profounder knowledge, they may have true knowledge nevertheless. we need not burn ourselves to know not to play with fire, but yeah, those who have burned themselves will know that on a deeper, intense level of conviction. sadly, i think many nowadays would rather burn themselves than stay safe…
mika said,
November 23, 2009 at 4:01 pm
“It is this notion of disease and death as a necessary route to knowledge, health, and life that makes The Magic Mountain a novel of initiation,”
i couldnt help but be reminded of the report i need to present on thursday, a report on descartes, (ang hirap, haha) for him, to arrive at knowledge, one must start in doubt. in one of his books, he sets out to sweep away all he once held certain, in the hope of finding something that was beyond any possible doubting… hmm, another possible parallel - in order for something to resurrect, it must first die(?)…
get well soonest Miracle! :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
November 23, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Hi Mika! Thank you for your good wishes. I’m feeling better today, thank God. =)
What this entry forgot to say is that I speak from the viewpoint of one who is also considered more sheltered than not. Without that being said, my tone does lean toward the offensive, but I thank you for clarifying what I left off, and took care to regard my views.
That being said, I am somewhat relieved - although that may not be the proper term - that the experiences which have made me “less-sheltered” were those that did not have to concern grave sins or spiritual danger: My grandmother dying in my arms, certain heartaches, and being persecuted for my faith are what I personally see as my “necessary route to knowledge, health, and life” - even if I am probably a long way from the fullness of that route. How unfortunate for those who think that “experience” and being “un-sheltered” only means dancing on the borders of evil.
Wow, Descartes! How interesting! I’ve been thinking of reading him after discovering that Pascal refuted him repeatedly in Pensées. hehe Were you the one who chose him as your subject? =)
Pertaining “routes”, after everything, one person might say this and that, I may agree and you may not, or vice versa, but in the end, we know and cling to this only Truth: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
The important verses for us to remember in such cases are these: Colossians 2:8, and 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Colossians 2:8 gets me each time. hehe =)
mika said,
November 24, 2009 at 7:23 am
hmm, in that case, i guess i’m more sheltered than you are. hehe… though yeah, i’ve had those moments too that remind me that i can’t stay sheltered forever. it’s difficult, but in all things, He has a purpose, and that’s something i cling to when those trying moments meet me.
we were given several philosophers to choose from, and my group picked descartes, partly because i was sort of familiar with him and partly because he was the first philosopher on the schedule of reports, and i wanted to get the report over with as soon as possible :P the reading we’ll report on is excerpts from “meditations of first philosophy”, i think it’s readable, not one of those infuriatingly opaque texts some philosophers are capable of writing, haha
Miracle ♪♫ said,
November 24, 2009 at 9:26 am
On the other hand, it is a truth that no one is unsheltered and exempted from sin… the seeking of redemption should be our journey and greatest experience, not the seeking of more sins. hehe
You are a wise young man, Mika. Let’s pray for His guidance at all times, and for experiences that will enrich us.
I’m sure you’ll do well with the report! Share what you’ve learned in your blog! =)