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| "Destiny" (1900) by John William Waterhouse |
Have you ever wrongly imagined what your destiny might (or might not) be?
Why do you think we do this?
Do you believe that the traumas of one generation can be passed on to the next generation?
What do you think of the insights about life, expectation, and forgiveness that close the chapter?
In response to the first two questions:
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I imagined myself being in some kind of job like a firefighter or a teacher. I realized later that’s not the direction I want to take my life, but at that time that’s what I wanted. I think a lot of people think this way because of the people they are around. That was my experience. Everyone around me wanted to be a firefighter or teacher, so I did too. I believe that when we are younger we tend to copy and agree with those around us, especially if we look up to them.
In response to questions 3 and 4:
ReplyDeleteThis chapter shows how the actions of Nora’s parents and grandparents affected her. Nora’s grandparents both faced failure, and in turn so did her parents. Nora describes an “invisible baton of failure” being passed down to her from her mother, suggesting it as the reason for Nora continuing to give up on things she wanted to do in the past. This baton started from her grandfather's dream of being a brick maker in London before passing onto Nora’s mother, and then herself. Her father also had his own dream crushing moment, possibly adding to why Nora gave up on so many of her own dreams. This chapter highlights how the behaviors of past generations can negatively affect us, and how we are likely to repeat them. I do believe that the traumas of one generation can be passed down to the next. Good examples would be historic tragedies, and how they can change the way an affected family treats others for generations.
I also believe that generational trauma can be passed down. I think you perfectly explained the way Nora's family passed down their generational traumas to her. -Abigayle Shropshire
DeleteResponding to question 2 and 3) For me, I think the idea of “destiny” can be harmful in and of itself. I believe that is permits us to only consider one possibility for our lives and only allows us one outcome revolving around that possibility. When I was younger, I used to think my destiny was to become a doctor and that was the only thing I could be. As I grew older, I realized that I did not want to be a doctor, but this caused issues for me at that age because I had already told everyone I knew of my life plans. I thought I would be disappointing them by not “living up” to my perceived “destiny”. I think that we think this way because that is what has been passed down for generations. The media, literature, and passed down stories have always had an idea surrounding “destiny” in them. “Fulfilling your destiny will save the world” or “you must work hard to fulfill your destiny”. These ideas are not inherently bad, but I do believe they give people, especially young children, unrealistic conceptions of what life will entail. It is a heavy weight to put on one’s shoulders. I think that “destiny” is merely living up to the standards and ideals you prescribe yourself to, not the ideals of parents or society, which is what I wrongly imagined my destiny to be.
ReplyDelete