Homebodies - A moral fable
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- Published on Sunday, September 6, 2015
By Rita Friesen
The Neepawa Banner
My sister recommended that I read the 1928 Pulitzer prize Winner, ‘ The Bridge of San Luis Rey’ by Thornton Wilder. Our local library was quick and gracious in getting it in for me. This is a moral fable, set in the 1700’s in Peru, examining the lives of five people, all of various ages and at different stages of their lives, that fell to their death when the primitive bridge collapsed.
The author, through the voice of a monk trying to determine if death is a reward , or a punishment, and if it is simply life, or destiny, examines these five lives in detail.
As I read I jot down thoughts stimulated by the written words, or underline (not in a library book!) phrases and images that speak to me. Describing an elderly woman - “She became increasingly negligent in her dress, and like all lonely people she talked to herself audibly.” At which point I heard myself utter an audible ‘Oh, my!’ Yep. Speaking of the written word, letters to a daughter at this point –‘ the whole purport of literature, which is the notation of the heart. Style is but the faintly contemptible vessel in which the bitter liquid is recommended to the world.’ A little later in the book we meet a set of identical twin brothers. One falls in love and this causes a rift in their relationship. The one in love was not a great reader, did not habit the theatre, and therefore defied the belief –‘that many people would never have fallen in love if they had not heard about it.’ He had not heard about it and it happened to him anyway! It is said of another one of the individuals whose life is closely examined –‘ His eyes are as sad as those of a cow that has been separated from its tenth calf.’ Now, granted it was a woman speaking those words, and the setting is a rural one, but oh the imagery is poignant. {I checked with a farmer friend and the tenth calf doesn’t mean that the cow is past calf bearing. Cows can be in their late teens before being put out to pasture. But the grief though repeated ten times, is still an aching grief.}
We are left to draw our own conclusions. The individuals whose lives were examined all deeply affected their family and community. Each one had impacted their world. Through the story, and it is a moral fable, we are allowed self examination and reflection. Did I read it because it was recommended? Yes. Did I read it because I wanted to? Definitely! And would I recommend it others? Yes. “The bitter liquid” was beneficial and digestible. I witnessed glimpses of myself, and insight to the thoughts and actions of others. A good read.
