R: As I've been reading I have discovered something about Jeanette's mother. As you know I have been working with my bibliography on Eastern philosophies and have chosen a number of sources related to Taoism. I believe that Jeanette's mother holds many qualities of a true Taoist. She never goes against the way of things which is a trait to which taoist call Wu Wei. When searching for a new home the family was driving down the road in the Mojave Desert when she spied a tree that was growing almost sideways. The tree had grown with the battering wind as opposed to fighting up wards against it. Jeanette's mother loved the tree, for, even though it appeared to be on the verge of falling over the roots were planted firmly in the ground. I think this tree is a lot similar to her mother which is maybe why she felt so inclined to paint a picture of it. Jeanette's mother does not work against the flow of things but rather finds a way to work with them and make them useful. She follows the Tao, so to speak. When discussing the death of her daughter she decided simply that God had given her plenty of good children and realized that this one was not quite right and he needed to take it back. Obviously she doesn't follow the ways of Taoism in worship and such but her ability to realize that things happen for a reason give her a very Eastern outlook on the cycle of life.
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2/10/10--4/4
ReplyDeleteWhen you describe Walls's mother, the mother sounds philosophical--I thought she was just supremely self-interested! Maybe I need to read more philosophy.
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