Ahhh..I don't know about you but I feel good. Here it is, Sunday night and I am not pacing the floor of my house trying to figure out new and inventive ways to teach the you all the fine points of writing and recognizing a periodic sentence laced with metonymy with a clear antecedent in the active voice. Woo Hooooo!!!
So, onward and upward. First the book is here! It is labeled quite unclearly so that I may escape the notice by the long arm of the law, who will, I'm sure, note that I have violated about 12 million (HYPERBOLE!!) copyright laws by having it here on the blog. Look to the left of your screen, and on the nav bar you will see a new folder that I am sure you can all recognize. For those of you not able to procure a copy of said book, you may use the download/upload and it will do just as well. Perhaps even better. :)
As stated, I plan to run the remainder of year similar to that of a look club filled with intellectual discussions about the book and about the many issues and ideas that the book may bring to the fore for some of you.
I would like very much for you to have read the first 2 chapters of the book for tomorrow's class. You can, of course, read at your own pace, and I suspect that many of you are going to feel the same way I do about this book, and because of that you will undoubtedly read ahead. Please feel free to do so.
For tomorrow's discussion, I would like to focus on the last 2 lines of Chapter I: "People and their rituals. They cling so hard to things sometimes."
Thoughts?
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Rituals are controllable. Rituals are predictable. Unlike real life, where thousands upon thousands of variables remain hidden behind the bush, rituals invoke no fear. Why? It is impossible to fear your little comforting sphere or bubble. You never fear what you know.
ReplyDeleteIn relation to the book, the quote could refer simply to Denny's daytime routine, for, based on Enzo's assessment of where Denny had been during the day, Denny seems to follow a relatively predictable daytime routine. However, I think that, as far as the book goes, this is more significant to the fact that Enzo is ready for Denny to let him go. Enzo doesn't "want to go out like this," and has trouble standing up and doing the things that dogs do, but Denny keeps taking hims beloved dog back and forth to the veterinarian and shoving more drugs down Enzo's throat to try to keep him around. Enzo and Denny have been together for so long and have grown so close that their being together could be viewed as a ritual of sorts, and Denny is clinging onto that.
ReplyDeleteBut, as we established in class today, this is a philosophy book, so its meaning is meant to be broadened and pondered in terms of life in general, and in this case, people in general.
The first thing that came to my mind was Stockholm Syndrome. Rituals are what we know, and whether what we know is a life of luxury or a near-death in hell, people, in general, find it hard to depart from the life they know and the patterns they follow. How else could it be that a victim abused for twenty-plus years does not go public or try to escape, even when at liberty to do so? Or consider the much less drastic example of moving your parents' keys from the counter to the kitchen table or from the hook on the left to the hook on the right. We don't like it when our ritualistic ways are threatened.
Everyone loves a good vacation, a chance to get away from the drone of everyday life, but barely anyone loves moving homes, cities, or schools. When we go on vacation, there is little to no threat to the way we live our lives. It's as if we pull out our universal remote and press "pause," but when someone moves, it's like destroying the tape. There is no true return, and most people are extremely uncomfortable with that.
Uroosa:
ReplyDeleteI disagree with "you never fear what you know." There are those cases where the aggressor is all a kidnap victim knows anymore, like in the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard or of Shawn Hornbeck. Even though Dugard got to know her kidnapper fairly well in her 18-year captivity, she still professed her fear of him later.
That quote to me says, "security".
ReplyDeleteYou know and could semi-control the outcome if you already know the components from other prior situations. Traditions come along and are turned so sacred sometimes because the families before have succeed, or were content with the outcomes of their ways. It's a probable insurance, but when another way that can also succeed is introduced, the "traditional" ones feel threatened out of their insured place.
Though Enzo is speaking about mundane actions preformed by Denny, those actions are almost in a chain reaction that after he does this, he will do that, and soon all the days are mimicked from the beginning which then result in the fact that it becomes predictable and "secure" to semi-control.
This also reminds me of the fact that Enzo thinks he possesses the human soul, and I think that it's also a reflection of the attachment he has with Denny. I became more convinced when he felt that Eve left him with a responsibility to take care of Zoe. Enzo becomes "clingy" himself, but attempts to justify it by saying it's his responsibility.
A ritual is different from a routine in its sancitity. Many people find getting up at an ungodly hour to go to work to be the most unholy of tasks - hence it is a routine, whereas the cleaning of teeth and nails and skin is a ritual. It is something comforting for many people; people without ritual tend to be generally unhappy with their lives, I have found (lots of atheists - only this year in AP Language have I met happy atheists). And rituals are unique to human beings, I think, whereas routines are universal for living creatures. So when Enzo says that humans cling 'so hard sometimes' to their rituals, I think that he is touching on the comfort that many people find in ritual. He says it with some pity - as though ritual is an immature coping strategy for life, which it may very well be. What is ritual but a diversion from reality, or an assertion of a parallel (but not necessarily realistic) reality? Is that an immature tactic in dealing with reality, for an immature species? Enzo, a very transcendentalist-Buddhist type of critter, has embraced nature, as a part of it, and if he were to ever become human, he would bring his canine traits into his human body, including his contempt for human isolationism.
ReplyDeleteAm I clear? =/
Rob: “And rituals are unique to human beings, I think, whereas routines are universal for living creatures.”
ReplyDeleteThank you! I’ve been going over this blog question in my head since I read it last night, and I kept getting hung up on other animals and what I saw as their “rituals”. I kept thinking “’Humans and their rituals’… hmmmm. Don’t my horses, who always come into their stalls around feeding time, have rituals? What about my border collies, who’ve involved an elaborate, seemingly ritualistic, system of returning a fetched ball where Kipper fetches, then hands it off to Nellie, before Nellie drops it too far from my feet and Kipper runs back to bring it the rest of the way?” Now it makes sense; they have routines. Coming to eat at a certain time or returning a tennis ball in a certain manner is a matter of convenience or necessity. For the dogs, this method establishes Nellie’s dominance—she gets to take the ball from Kipper, effectively saying “look at me, I can control you, respect me”—yet the method also plays on Nellie’s laziness. Kipper loves to chase tennis balls over long distances, and is beyond eager to do whatever you tell her, while Nellie is more laid back and would rather watch. So Kipper does the hard work, but Nellie proves she’s top dog. For the horses, coming in at a set time is convenient—they know they’ll be fed then. If we switched feeding time from 9:00 to 11:00, at first, they’d come in early, but then they’d adapt to the new routine rather than continue the inconvenient one ritualistically.
I don’t like how Enzo puts the idea of humans and rituals in a negative context. For some things, like if someone kissed a lucky necklace before every test, then yes, that could very well be considered ridiculous. However, Enzo mentioned the indubitable irrationality of human attachment to rituals with reference to quotidian things, like brushing one’s teeth. I don’t consider this a ritual. A ritual is something done routinely that has some sort of spiritual or emotional value. Brushing one’s teeth is like eating -- you do it because you have to, you do it because you need to. Thus, this is one of many, many things, that I think Enzo sensationalizes and blows out of proportion things that really just are and do not happen because of some profound intellectual motive.
ReplyDeleteOn a broader spectrum though, I can see the truth in Enzo’s words. Obviously, he’s talking immediately about how Denny will have a problem letting him go. But on a the grand scale of life, people do cling to things that bring them solace -- why wouldn’t they? I feel better when I’m learning Japanese. Whenever I get too much homework or don’t have time, I freak out if I can’t do a Japanese lesson, because it’s what signals that I have done at least one thing with my day and that my day will end peacefully. It’s simply nice to have a few things you can count on everyday to make you smile. Accordingly, I don’t believe this quote is particularly eye-opening or ground breaking; it just states a truth that most people don’t think of, but can easily see no problem with. Like it’s too obvious.
People and their rituals, people need comfort in which rituals are able to provide. They grab upon what is easily attained and do it everyday as a way of reminding themselves that they actually have something to do… Brushing our teeth, while it may seem almost innate, is something we do out of habit. I’ll admit, that at first it was to prevent the threat of cavities. However, we have come to a point that we do it to easily attain, fresh breath before going to school, and white teeth before taking pictures. In context, these rituals humans have pertained themselves to can be equated to routine. We do things out of habit; we brush our teeth out of habit. This is why we feel the need to “cling so hard sometimes.” We feel it necessary to have the familiarity and comfort in their lives in order to be content.
ReplyDelete(If you didn’t read to chapter 25, DON’T READ THIS! It will ruin part of the book for you.)
ReplyDeleteI’m in love. I seriously CANNOT get enough of this book! It’s impossible to put down, and even harder to stop thinking about; Enzo has captured my heart and mind. Speaking of Enzo, I firmly believe that he is a rare form of genius although his intelligence will be indefinitely ignored. Every statement he makes can be applied to myriad situations happening to anyone anywhere. It saddens me to know that he can never share his thoughts with Denny, because I know that Denny would give anything for an alternate perspective on his unpleasant circumstance. But, back to rituals…
“People and their rituals. They cling so hard to things sometimes.”
There could not be a statement truer. People associate rituals with normalcy, and normalcy with comfort. Everyone wants to be comforted, no matter the circumstances. This especially holds true for Denny when Eve is diagnosed with brain cancer. Even though he has to get into a new routine with Eve and Zoe living with the Twins, Denny finds a new schedule that he depends on to keep him sane. Instead of worrying about all of the hardships in his life, Denny only worries about his routine, which keeps his mind off of Eve’s illness. With his “rituals,” Denny can forget that his wife is slowing perishing before his eyes, and that there is nothing he can do to save her.
Roo: "You never fear what you know." That's interesting that you write that, and it makes complete sense in context. However, out of context, I sometimes feel as if we fear most what we keep close to us and it is solely in the comfort that we keep it close to us.
ReplyDeleteManar: I'm so glad you wrote the word secure! I was thinking about the same thing but couldn't think of words other than "familiar" and "comfort" to describe it. You opened up the quote more for me.
Robby: "Many people find getting up at an ungodly hour to go to work to be the most unholy of tasks - hence it is a routine"
This is a very unique twist to the idea of a routine and how it effects the meaning of ritual; I like it. While, it is very subjective I believe you could make quite a strong argument.
Uroosa: I loved how your blog was short and sweet, but conveyed a powerful message. I whole-heartedly agree with you and commend you on getting straight to the point! I like that rituals do not invoke fear… I’m afraid of the weirdest things and my “rituals” sometimes alleviate that fear.
ReplyDeleteManar: After thinking about it, this quote definitely screams “security.” Everyone wants to find something that makes him or her feel safe, whether it is a dog promising to watch over their child, or locking their door at night. It all depends on the person. Once again, Enzo finds a way to maneuver himself into Denny, Eve, and Zoe’s daily lives; for the better, or course!
Paola: Familiarity and comfort are definitely the two bases of this quote. Without them, life would be dangerous and no one would ever “cut loose.” Whatever ritual it may be, most rituals act as a constant in one’s life, and serve them by maintaining control and tranquility within said life.
For the majority of the year, a ten-pound chem book accompanied me wherever I traveled through the wonderful world of Oakcrest. It always stayed in my right hand, except during classes, during which it spent the period lounging on top of my book bag. I would check on it every once in a while, just to make sure it hadn’t sprouted legs and ran away. However my day went, I, like a mother with a child, always had my chem book by my side to watch over… except when I didn’t. When I didn’t, when the book grew arms and, unbeknownst to me, hoisted itself off of my bag and clung to the floor in one class, or, when I forgot that I had purposefully left it sitting on the kitchen floor, I became nervous. I would glance down to check and make sure the book was still with me, and, seeing that it wasn’t, launch my heart into a bout of nervous fluttering. If I had left the book in a previous class, I would worry about whether or not I would get back what I left behind. If I simply didn’t bring it that day, I would settle slightly, but remain uncomfortable without the book to check up on.
ReplyDeleteAs Enzo puts it, humankind does tend to “cling” to rituals. Be they truly for our benefit or not, these rituals do instill a sense of security. Take someone with OCD for instance. Positioning a pen “just so” on a desk may be a ritual in which this person engages, but it really does nothing to obviously better the person’s life. This ritual does however, as my chem book rituals did, provide a sense of grounding, of control. We as individuals often feel like we control so little in this world, and life has a habit of throwing curveballs to reinforce this belief. A ritual, religious, OCD-ish, or otherwise gives us a tiny thing that’s easy to control. We choose to keep it constant—I WILL bring this book with me every day and always keep it in the exact same place—as if to (consciously or not) say, “Look crazy world, I do have a modicum of influence over what happens to me.” It’s tangible control, and control easily achieved, unlike the more sophisticated idea of manifesting what we wish to be before us. Driving in the rain, attempting to initiate a spin and reacting to it “before the car knows what happened”, takes skill and carries risk. As Denny puts it, “… all drivers spin. It comes from pushing the limits.” Thus, in contrast to attempts at control that involve risk, rituals tend to be immediately rewarding and comforting. Even if a ritual is itself “uncomfortable” or mundane, the constancy it provides compensates.
Uroosa: “You never fear what you know.”
ReplyDeleteIronically, I think I fear most what I do know, but by keeping these things close, or turning them into rituals, I mask the fear, temporarily, from myself and achieve a sort of inner peace. So my rituals themselves are, like you said, not something I fear—quite the contrary—but that which they cover up is. Lately, when I’ve had a tough day, I write, a sort of newly-formed ritual for me. Though I suppose you could argue that I gain greater insight into my life through this ritual—and I do—it actually calms me to watch everything pour onto a word document though I relive unpleasant experiences/emotions/whatever in the process. So though the ritual is calming, what it represents is needn’t be.
Well, I believe people stick to their rituals because they are what make people feel connected and accepted by other people. For example, brushing your teeth is a ritual because it is not necessary for a person to survive, however, it is needed to be accepted by the people around you.
ReplyDeleteIt just makes sense for people to cling to what connects them to the rest of society, since a majority of people want to feel a connection or want to be a part of a certain group. It is very rare that a person likes to be alone, all of the time anyway.
Therefore, I believe that people sling to these rituals, not because they have grown used to these rituals, like in a routine, but because they know that following these rituals will at least keep them among other people. They know that the rituals are necessary to be accepted and be a part of the majority.
Jessie:
ReplyDeleteCommenting on Uroosa....
I agree. Most of the things that I know I fear more than the things I do not know. It is knowing, but maybe not understanding, that makes me feel these things more. Whereas, things I do not know anything about fall under the category of ignorance is bliss.
Jessie:
In your actual blog, I would like to comment on the ritual of carrying your chemistry book around. I, just like you, had my baby in hand for a majority of my day. I, as would a new mother, would freak out when my baby walked off. I just like the way you worded your blog, filled it with awesomeness.
Kale:
As always, you are bold enough to stand against the crowd. Your first sentence caught my eye. It started off with you not liking the way that Enzo put something or stated something about humans. I read your blog and I enjoyed seeing an opinion so different from my own. While I almost always love the way he words or observes things, it was refreshing to see a different side.
Paola:
I think that your blog relates to mine in a sense. While I said humans cling to rituals to be part of society, you said they do it to find comfort in their lives. I feel they are one in the same. People long to be part of something bigger, and, once they are, they are comfortable.
Steph: “It just makes sense for people to cling to what connects them to the rest of society, since a majority of people want to feel a connection or want to be a part of a certain group.”
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I didn’t even think of it that way, but I enjoyed reading your take on the quote. :) It makes sense that people would use certain rituals to feel more in tune with society. Still, I think that others are more personal, like taking a moment to watch the sunset everyday because it makes you feel more in tune with nature. Then again, I suppose even that example provides a connection to something, just not necessarily something human.
Rob:
ReplyDeleteIt’s me again. :) I’ve been thinking about the ritual/routine thing, and while I still agree with you, I’ve gotten the sense that routines are pretty powerful beasts as well. People tend to like routine… and new routines set precedents. Shifting a routine can shift how the world views you. If my parents aren’t into letting me go out alone with friends, but I can subtly shift this pattern of thought, their routine response to my requests, I can change their reactions fairly effectively.
So many human actions are based on routine. I go to Matlack’s room daily for lunch, not as a ritual but more just because it’s what I do, a routine. But never the less it reveals a lot about me, and I do sort of cling to this routine. I go to Matlack’s to get work done, and because it’s often quiet in there. I get to sit and think. Just me in my own little world and Matlack off running errands or sitting in his desk grading papers. Occasionally, I’m not alone, and I don’t mind it when other chem students linger after class or come in to get work done too and chat a bit, but I still relish the silence. This routine also suggests my fear; I don’t want to go to lunch. I don’t want to be overwhelmed by opportunity for disaster, or guilt for not seizing opportunity. I don’t want to relinquish my comfortable silence. I like my routine just as much as I like my rituals.
When I read this, I automatically knew from that point that Enzo did not understand the life of a human as much as I had hoped. I understand as an observer of Denny and his family's life, he has more insight on certain topics. But because he doesn't actually live a "human" life, he speaks about 'rituals' as if they are acts that merely waste time and energy. He doesn't understand man's need to fit into society. Society forms this grand image around people who are clean, tidy, and civilized while the filthy and dirty are bums and hobos living on the street. Rituals allow people to adhere to these standards. Yet, Enzo cannot relate because, one, he doesn't truly participate within human society other than Denny's family. And two, he doesn't need to struggle to fit into because he is already loved by the only people that matter to him. Unlike humans, dogs and other canines naturally are not as dependent on each other because they are better equipped for the wild. They do not possess a life-or-death need to fit in it. Humans, yes they do have wild instincts to break free from restraints, but the need to belong is much stronger. Pointing to another section of the book, Enzo additionally did not comprehend the refreshing feeling humans crave from cleanliness; for some, it can heal and sooth the soul. He absolutely hated one man for washing his toy later in the story--until he realized how much he liked it. This quote, to me, demonstrated the limitations of using a canine speaker to narrate a book about human philosophy.
ReplyDeleteBut on to Enzo's point: What's so wrong about having a few rituals? They not only connect you to society, but also help you stay sane in hard times. Throughout the entire book, Denny's life was pelted by several large obstacles: struggles with his wife's cancer, custody of Zoë, and an endless criminal trial. And now, again, he is faced with the inevitable death of his beloved dog. As the metaphor goes, it's not just raining out, it's pouring. The little rituals people approach everyday, such as brushing their teeth, may seem tedious or ridiculous, but they provide an inkling of comfort and control. Denny may not be able to control the future of his loved ones, but at least he'll have sparkling white teeth! Is that too much to ask?
Stephanie:
ReplyDeleteI agree with what your blog because it’s very similar to what I said. If somebody wants through the school with visibly greasy hair and smelling as if they haven’t showered in weeks, it’s tough for that person to make friends and be accepted. It also makes them look less credible and responsible on the job. As much as we want to say we love to be unique and apart from the majority, most of us do submit to society’s standards. I mean, if somebody turned into a Chris McCandless and left to the wild, we would probably look down on him.
Kale:
I think brushing your teeth is a ritual. You won’t die if you don’t brush your teeth. Your teeth will just riot and fall out. I, personally, find great spiritual and emotional value every time I brush my teeth because the refreshing, clean feeling of my mouth is just thrilling. By the way, I’m not being sarcastic about this. And I agree with you that Enzo does blow things out of proportion, but hey, he just a dog!
Manar:
“Enzo becomes "clingy" himself, but attempts to justify it by saying it's his responsibility.” This made me slightly angry at Enzo because it made me realized that while he talks about humans and rituals in such a negative way, he in fact has his own rituals! He watches the television all the time, he likes to stay away from the dinner table when his family is eating, he sleeps with a toy dog—he IS clingly! How could he ever look down on humans when he does the same thing!
Since we are doing a book discussion, I decided to throw my 29.5 cents into the fray.
ReplyDeleteFirst to comment on comments, I would say only this: books are what they are because of the people who read them. No book can possibly mean the same thing to anyone because we will all bring our various perspectives, personalities and preconceptions to our interpretations.
I applaud this; in fact, I expect it.
That said, there is a fine line between closed-mindedness and so-called individuality so when you walk that line, tread intelligently.
To say that Enzo's persopective is limited because he is a dog is 100% accurate and completely understandable; we talked about the fact that he is an unreliable narrator as all 1st person/canine/feline/reptilian narrators are. However, to say, as a critique, that a dog can't philosophize as a human because he isn't human sort of misses the point of a book about philosophy or life or even aeronautics for that matter. Told in metaphors, this book has the luxuary of not begging an interpretation of the one-size-fits-all sort. It's one of the reasons (I assume) it's been a best-seller for so long. When Enzo makes his internal musings about rituals at the same time as Denny is brushing his teeth, it can "logically" be assumed that the ritual he is musing about is personal hygiene, but it doesn't HAVE to be. Not all internal (or external for that matter) musings are laced with profundity; they are not all meant to be. It is what it is because of who is reading it and what that person gets out of it/puts into it. Books are like music in that way.
Enzo's comment about rituals, to me, speaks volumes about the differences that exist between animals and humans. I think it is meant to. Humans DO cling to rituals, whatever they may be and for whatever reason, because it is in our nature to establish patterns and routines as a means of proving our existence, our individuality maybe simply our humanity.
Also, as this is a work of fiction and therefore must contain elements of fiction writing, I think there is a bit of foreshadowing in Enzo's words. Maybe about Denny's reaction to Eve's illness or Enzo's impending mortality or even his daughter's coming-of-age (a stretch, that last one, but still possible).
All-in-all, I see a lot of myself in Enzo and a lot of some of you as well. And Denny. And Eve. No Trishes or Maxwells in the bunch though--thank goodness!
Remind me at some point in the future to do the animal interpretations!
This quote really made me think and reflect. I thought to myself, "Do I cling onto things?"
ReplyDeleteWhen I clean my room (Which is once every decade) I get two big ol' trash bags and start sternly getting rid of things I won't ever have a use for. (The second bag is for hand me downs and Goodwill.)
Still, even though I'm throwing things in the trash left and right, I find an item that I just can't bare to throw away.
For example, I found this old pink doll in the back of my closet. It was ratty and disgusting looking, but it was my "cooker girl". She's a simple doll, no fingers or toes, no breasts or butt like a Barbie, but she had a big pink chef's hat and blue button eyes that attracted me to her in the store.
At once, memories came to me that I spent with this toy. I remembered camping and dropping her in a huge puddle, or the week where I lost her at school. I bit my lip and thought about it. She was too beat up to give to Goodwill, but I just couldn't throw her away. I put her back at the back of the shelf as I went through my other stuffed toys (half of them staying exactly where they were)
Half of my old toys could go to others, but I cling onto them because they remind me of the happiest times of my life; the memories of my childhood. I don't think it's odd behavior, even Enzo found himself emotional when his dog toy was taken from him and cleaned. When he got the toy back, he was aware of the irony that he enjoyed the toy more when it was clean. Just as I know that my old toys won't bring back the happiness from the moments spent with them, I still cling onto them hoping that one day they just might.
Jessie:
ReplyDeleteI like how you related the excerpt to needing to have the illusion of control. I didn't think of that when I read that part of the book, but after reading your response, I look at the quote in a different light. I'm a tapper, a drummer, a ticker. Even when I seem to be entirely spontaneous, I am tapping or drumming or ticking. When I play goalkeeper, I have a tick. It's my feeling of control. When asked to stop, I always continue in some way, clinging on to this ritual.
I'm really enjoying how the vagueness of the quote led to so many different interpretations. So far, no two people have taken the exact same stance, although some have resembled each other. It just goes to show that we all think differently and because of that, there are so many different possibilities. Just saying :]
ReplyDeleteRob:
ReplyDeleteFirst off, you are clear. I agree with the feeling of pity that Enzo conveyed in his observation, and I agree that there is a difference between ritual and routine. However I think that both serve a similar purpose. When Eve falls ill, Denny adopts a strict schedule as a way to stay organized. And, really, what is organization but a coping mechanism, a way to gain control? Rituals bring a sense of comfort. Denny can lay his head on the pillow knowing that if he brushes his teeth, his breath won't stink, or that if he prays, God won't strike him with lightning. Ultimately, both comfort and control serve the purpose of making us feel as though that which we manifest is before us. We're just looking for a way to make ourselves feel better, even when, considering our failures, shortcomings, and the unfortunate hand we may have been dealt, that may seem impossible.
I think Enzo is a genious. He’s merely observed people for maybe 10 years and manages to pin point us faster then we can ourselves. It’s quite obvious that this quote doesn’t exactly mean what it says. Yes its true in all of its literalness, but Enzo, on a deeper level is not referring to routines, he’s referring to things. The people (or animals) in our lives are like suction cups, once they’ve stuck, it’s hard to pull them off; once they’re gone the mark they leave never goes away. This is what he was saying. The clinging is to those who you love. That cling makes it harder to let go, but the risk of loss is worth the reward of having someone special in your life.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first cam across this post, I reflected on myself for a bit.
ReplyDeleteDo I tend to cling to certain rituals?
And why do I continue to do these things?
I have noticed one word a significant amount of times while scrolling down the blog posts, and its a word that has stuck out to me the most; Security.
It is no surprise to me that people tend to cling to rituals a lot because it makes them feel more secure. In fact, I sleep with the same small blanket every night because it makes me feel oddly safer. Its a ritual that I started when I was one, and its stuck with me throughout the years [Granted..I should probably try to shake myself from that habit xD]. However, I don't always think that this has to be take in such a negative sense.
Rituals do not only have to provide a sense of security. It can bring about comfort, sanity, and even individuality. It's human nature to establish routine as a way to bring familiarity to each and every day.
With rituals, comes a sense of control. In leading what is a rather unpredictable life, the ability to control at least one thing about these lives may be the reason we become to accustomed to following a routine.
Personally, I don't find routines or small rituals to be particularly ridiculous or dangerous. As long as it doesn't involve the sacrificing of any individual or small, furry animal, do whatever floats your boat.
But then again.. perhaps I'm reading too into the story by thinking that Enzo views some of Denny's daily rituals to be silly. Hmmm...
Jourdan: I think that you're right on about the Stockholm Syndrome having to do with people's tendencies to stick to the familiar. Perhaps Stockholm Syndrome is just an inflation of a natural tendency that exists in all humans?
ReplyDeleteKTG!
ReplyDeleteYour post highlighted one of the main points I wanted to bring out in my blog. Rituals do not always have to bring about a sense of security, but they can also bring about feelings of comfort. Obviously, the memories of your childhood make you happy and comfortable. And as your continued cycle of refusal to throw away your Barbie doll continues, the sense of comfort that comes with that doll is clearly displayed.
Roo!
I understand what you were saying in your post. For the most part, the things we are familiar with, do not incite feelings of fear in us. Of course, there is always the exception. I do agree however, that because rituals are so predictable it is easier to fall into them and harder for us to fear as a result of that.
Lauren!
'People associate rituals with normalcy, and normalcy with comfort'
Let me just say, I LOVED the way you said that. The idea of comfort, now that I think about it, almost goes hand in hand with the idea of security. The more normal something becomes to you, the more comfortable you get, and as an extension, you may even begin to feel secure because of this. In my class period today, we noticed how everything in this book goes along with another point made in the book, and I feel as if our blog posts are doing the exact same thing.
Deanna: "Brushing one’s teeth is like eating -- you do it because you have to, you do it because you need to." You don't really have to brush your teeth, so I wouldn't equate it to eating so much, and I think that some people find comfort in the routine of having clean teeth, being human. No other creatures go to such great lengths to keep their teeth clean, even as they eat more filthy foods. Don't you find some comfort in knowing that your teeth are clean - that you are safe from the natural bacteria that swarm in your mouth (for now), that you are able to fit better into society with clean teeth?
ReplyDeletePaola
ReplyDeleteComfort is as the word suggested comforting. I completely agree about the rituals and routines. We are creatures of habit who undeniably need a sense of belonging and familiarity in our lives. Without this, we feel lost and to offset this, we find a new routine.
Deanna
I don’t think he views routines negatively, I think he’s just trying to understand people. To a dog so yearning to be a human, he’s trying to figure us out before he joins the ranks. From an outsider’s point of view, our clinging and routines probably do seem odd, especially the teeth brushing. What other species brushes their teeth? To Enzo, this would seem strange. But I agree with the foreshadow of the statement and its relation to Denny letting go.
Uroosa
I think people like to be in control. They like to know vaguely what should happen next and routines provide this comfort. People like knowing, the less we see the more we know. A singular routine day is all a person may know and this is reassuring.
Katie: "I cling onto them because they remind me of the happiest times of my life" That's a good way to look at 'rituals' that hadn't really crossed my mind, on this particular topic. It fits well into my idea that rituals are largely a product of society, to help fit into society. When you share rituals, you share common ground in your memories. Lots of people go to funerals, often several in even a short lifetime (and always at least one), and the people who attend bring their grief along and let it go with all the other memories.
ReplyDeleteEnzo has mentioned several flawed human characteristics, and not one of them seems to be illogical or erroneous. Each point he has made, each lesson he has taught, and each anecdote he has shared reveals one simple thing: truth. Ironically enough, this humanity expert is a dog. By observing and listening constantly, he witnesses these truths to be self-evident. While watching Denny brush his teeth, Enzo mentions, “People and their rituals. They cling so hard to things sometimes.” I couldn’t agree more. Once again, a truth has been revealed. This is why I love this dog. Anyways, clinging, rituals, and all associated terms conversely relate to comfort. When haven’t we had rituals? It seems like a silly concept. Without rituals, I’m sure humanity would be lost, or just extremely uncomfortable. We cling to religion, routine, and tradition because we like to feel accepted. We want to be just like everyone else, find a place in the world, and thus we gravitate towards the appealing and accepted rituals. I'll admit, I cling to things because it makes me feel like I have a place in the world. That I was meant to do something with it. Humans and our silly rituals go hand in hand. We feel a sense of belonging. Dogs, on the other paw, can survive off of eating, sleeping, and pooping. They don’t over think much, and thus don’t care whether or not they belong. They’re just playing survival of the fittest. So, Enzo, even though you’re a dog, and even though you don’t have thumbs, you are more human than I’ll ever be. Unfortunately, when you reincarnate into a human, you’ll probably start clinging to those things. It’s an inevitable characteristic of all of us.
ReplyDeleteRoo-
ReplyDelete“You never fear what you know”
Many people are critiquing this statement, calling it invalid. But I have to disagree with them, and completely and utterly agree with you. Your short and sweet response was all that was needed to clearly and effectively get your point across. I instantly agreed with anything. Anyways, back to this sentence. Let’s take Eve for example. She knows something is wrong with her. She very well knows that she has brain cancer. She probably knows she will die. She doesn’t fear that. She fears what will happen to her. She fears what the brain cancer will do to her, do to her daughter, and do her husband. She fears how her husband will feel when she dies. That’s why she never wanted to go to the hospital. She didn’t fear the diagnosis. She feared what that constant would do in the long run. To know to is be comfortable, and to not know is to be uncomfortable. Plain and simple.
Shirley-
ReplyDeleteI agreed with most of your opinions in your blog, but I don't think you should be so defensive with rituals. I don't believe Enzo is purposely trying to critique human nature to a point where he thinks they are utterly stupid and ridiculous. Yes, he hasn't directly participated, and yes, he's never been human before, but he's probably listened and observed more than any of us ever could. He's just pointing out the observation that we usually ignore. I honestly don't believe he thinks it's a bad thing. He just thinks it's amusing how hard we try to fit in. To belong.
Jourdan S.-
ReplyDelete“Or consider the much less drastic example of moving your parents' keys from the counter to the kitchen table or from the hook on the left to the hook on the right. We don't like it when our ritualistic ways are threatened”
I really like this example you provided. It went well with your overall concept, and the example was definitely relatable. I think the word “threatened” accurately describes the feeling when our rituals (or routines) are messed up. That word was definitely striking when I read your blog. As you said, rituals are what we know. When they’re tampered with, it’s like someone is challenging our knowledge. We humans just can’t stand that.
I see rituals as our everyday comfort; something we don't have to even think about. But since I don't have much to add to everyone's thoughts on rituals, I'm going to narrow my response to the end of Enzo's quote. He says that people cling so hard to things.
ReplyDeleteAs disturbing as it may sound, a family member very close to me, also a very healthy one, told me that when she is being kept alive by machines one day, she trusts me to be the one to give the doctor permission to pull the plugs. All her trust is in my hands, but I don't deserve it. I can't do it, and that is why the first two chapters of the book made me feel horrible about myself. Enzo make the comment that when we love something, we should be able to let it go. But if you love something or someone so much, how can we live without it? It's a sensitive area for me. They say that it's better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all, but I ashamedly admit that I often contemplate whether that is true.
This is why Enzo negatively speaks about rituals and peoples' habits of clinging to things so hard. I can't say I disagree with Enzo, yet I often wish human's didn't do that. It would make it a lot easier to deal with losing things we love in life.
Katie: I love that you took his quote and applied it to such a simple concept like throwing away clothes that you don't even wear. This just goes to prove how clingy we are in nature and how we fail to realize it at times. I do the same thing, and I can't even say a sense of security comes from this Clingy-ness. I want to say that it's almost a feeling of guilt for me. I feel like I'm throwing something great away even though I won't use it.
ReplyDeleteRob: Your blog was very clear. I loved that you created a dichotomy between rituals and routines because I often put them together. But aren't they sometimes the same? Let's take, for instance, people with OCD. They take no pleasure in completing the task of applying deodorant twenty times or counting the tiles they walk, but they do it everyday. It is a ritual, but isn't it also just part of the daily routine? They don't like it, and just like getting up at early hours of the day, it's a hassle.
ReplyDeleteShirley: I agree with you that Enzo doesn't know as much about human life as he likes to believe or that I hoped he would. Many of the truths he reveals only come from observation, but we can never understand a person until we take a walk in their shoes. But I don't however, think that he necessarily criticizes them all. There are positive and negative to aspects to everything, and I feel like he realizes that. He makes a good point though, because when we lose the things we cling to, we're lost.
ReplyDeleteRituals exist in our lives at some point if not for all of our lives. They become part of who we are to some extent. Whether it’s talking to a specific friend each day, celebrating holidays, or even committing the same hours to the same job every day. We all form some kind of rituals at some point. They’re not necessarily bad things; it just becomes a norm in our lives. If these norms are upset then change is created within our lives. Change is not always easy for humans to cope with. Certain changes cause stress and are dreaded for the details that are stringed along. Some people will fight change as much as they can, kicking and screaming the entire way. If the change sticks around long enough it becomes the new norm but for that time period between being new and old, humans will sometimes fight it. Enzo and Denny have a close bond and it seems that for Denny to give up on that bond would be a difficult task. At some point in time though, as displayed, rituals along with various aspects of life must change.
ReplyDeleteJessie: “This ritual does however, as my chem book rituals did, provide a sense of grounding, of control.”
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this. I think that rituals do give us a sense of control. They make us feel like there is something in this world that we have power over. It provides comfort and allows us to see that not everything in this world is over our heads. You made a good point here.
Uroosa: I really liked how you wrote that “rituals invoke no fear.” This is true and this is why people cling to them. They are comfortable and we don’t have to worry about any kind of change or risks as long as we stick to our rituals. Change can bring fear but if things don’t change then what is there to fear?
Paola: “We feel it necessary to have the familiarity and comfort in their lives in order to be content.”
I think that familiarity is definitely necessary in our lives to some extent. So not only do we feel it necessary, I think we actually need it sometimes. I mean of course we’ll come face to face with change but at certain points in our lives we need something comforting, something to cling to when things are not so great. Rituals and change are both part of life and I think both are needed. One pushes us and the other helps us when help is needed.
Rituals are definitely used in the spiritual sense but what this quote reminded me of was that rituals represent control. The first day this was talked about everyone was talking about the spiritual component of rituals, I looked more from the control side, okay so here is why. I remember watching a show on MTV and everyone knows what it’s called TRUE LIFE : I have OCD. Immediately reading the book and Bunje asking us what this quote meant my mind popped to the daily rituals that many of them have to perform each day in order to feel comfortable and in order to in a “sense,” feel in control of their life. The one girl that was being followed on the show was afraid of her mom dying and did certain rituals that she believed would save her mom. She cannot control the death of her mom , so doing these rituals sort of gave her that control in a sense. Maybe it doesn’t make sense and trust me over and over I have been trying to relate it to spiritual means but the images and participants from the show keep coming into my mind. They remind of Denny in a sense, since I have discovered more and more about Denny’s control issues. He clings to things that he knows that he where he has power, like cars, or stupid insignificant stuff that define rituals to me. I feel that routines are more of something that you have no control over, you have control over you mess it up but it’s a necessity. It’s a vital counterpart in achieving a sufficient day. In a sense routine and ritual mean the opposite to me one is about control and one is about letting go and going with the flow just so you can get things done. I guess also in rituals we find comfort and that’s also why we hang out tightly because without them the world is a scary place that we have no control over.
ReplyDeleteHope this makes sense!
ReplyDeleteI need to feel like I belong. Everyday I follow the same schedule and routine. My morning ritual, my school ritual, and my night ritual. Almost everyday it is the same, with minor variations. When I do these things, I feel like I belong. I don’t skip class because I know that someone is waiting for me to be there. Someone is going to look up and realize I am not there. I like belonging and having people expect to see me, that feeling that I receive is why I cling to my rituals.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Enzo’s perspective on rituals, humans seem insane for going through the same motions day after day. Yet, what Enzo does not realize is that he is also the product of rituals. Yes, he cannot create his own destiny or rituals, but he follows each of Denny’s rituals, creating his own ritual. Every night when Denny is eating, he sits just outside of the dinning room. Different things like that show that because of human rituals the animals feed off of their movements. Maybe that is why Enzo has a negative outlook on the rituals, because he is forced to shadow them. This concept can apply to everyone. If your brother wakes up every morning before you to get in the shower, you have to wait until he is done to take your shower. However, if he did not wake up at that time your shower would be earlier. Humans can sometimes feed off of other’s rituals.
Clinging to anything is never a bad thing. Feeling passionate about a topic shows that you are persistent and would anything for that topic. Enzo is almost referring to Denny. I feel as though this was the time Enzo is trying to tell Denny to let him go and stop clinging to the things he is use to. Denny is so passionate and loves Enzo, but Enzo knows that for once in his life he has to step out of the ritual and let Enzo go.
Chrissy- “I'll admit, I cling to things because it makes me feel like I have a place in the world.” Your blog was very well thought out. I agreed with ever statement. It is a good feeling to show up at school and know people are expecting you to be there, (or anywhere for that matter). Feeling as though you belong or have a place creates this complacency in the world. I know I cling to my rituals as you do too but that is never a bad thing. I loved “on the other paw” very clever!
ReplyDeleteKristen- If it was a lot easier to deal with losing things we love, then we wouldn’t really love them. The way I see it, the people who love us just want us to be happy. They want you to pull the plug so that you do not have to suffer. In a way seeing them struggle and be in pain is worse than letting them go, which is less selfish on your part). I believe people need something to cling onto for stabilization. Hopefully you will never have to be at a point that you choose whether or not someone lives or dies, but if you do I know it’ll be the right choice.
Paola- “We feel it necessary to have the familiarity and comfort in their lives in order to be content.” I agree that rituals can add comfort to our lives, but it is not the only root to being content. Sure, it does add to some level of content, but I could never be content with my life and still go through the rituals out of the idea of being uniform. I do agree with the idea that most rituals are formed out of habit.
Rituals exist because of modern society. Since society was established, it has evolved over the last few hundred of years to create these standards that people must follow to be accepted. These standards have become rituals and people have learned to cling to them so that they aren’t outcasted. After all, everyone wants to be accepted to some capacity.
ReplyDeleteEnzo clarifies this practice through the description of the observations he makes. Although he has practices of his own to be accepted as a normal dog, such as licking Denny’s hand or wagging his tail when Denny comes home, he also accurately observes the practices of humans. Humans go through their daily routines, like work, because it has become expected of them. Denny follows these practices, as well as developing the feeling of guilt when he misses his daughter’s birth. If it was common for women to go through the birthing process solo, this feeling of guilt would’ve never arisen, but because of the standards society has set about men being a support system for their wives, the feeling of guilt arises. Denny dwells on this event, clinging onto it so very tightly. It becomes a part of him. This is due to the fact that this system has become a ritual that humans have clung to, among various other customs.
Jessie: Your connection to OCD was a great one! At times, I truly think I have slight OCDish tendencies. I feel like I have to do things a certain way for them to feel right because I’ve always been doing them that way. I’m so glad you made this connection!
ReplyDeleteStephanie: You made a very similar connection to the quote about people and rituals that I did. I also think society plays a major role in the reasons behind why people develop rituals that they feel that they must live by. Although you put a different spin on your connection, I agree and am glad to see that you see this quote in a similar light.
Manar: I think what you have to say about this quote is very similar to my thought process about it. The responsibilities that you use as your reasoning behind why people cling to certain things and rituals they have exist because of society. The way society has developed and the standards it has set have caused people to regard certain things as a responsibility and believe that they must be done.
Rituals. I distinctly remembering reading this and thinking that was such a strange word to use in that kind of situation, but I suppose to a dog, who doesn't do those things, would probably refer to them as "rituals". To me though, hygiene and all other things humans do aren't so much as rituals as they are just, things that have to be done. Rituals in my eyes are things that people go out of their way to do constantly, habits. For instance, habits I have are walking on my toes when I am not wearing shoes (which, actually makes wearing flip flops torture, seeing as they're like wearing virtually no shoes so my feet get confused and uncomfortable) and then there's "rituals" such as I wear my spirit braid to every band competition and I never take off the ring on my right hand, which is the ring my father gave my mother who gave it to me. They're all things that aren't vital to my life, I wouldn't be endangered if I stopped doing them, (although, walking on my toes is so much easier on my feet for some reason. When my feet hurt from wearing shoes all day, I take them off and walk on my toes. Feels very, very good!) but they're habits and sentimental rituals that I want to do for tradition sake.
ReplyDeleteAs for the second part of the quote, about humans clinging on to said "rituals", I suppose that poses true, but not for everyone. My mother is extremely detached from just about everything in the world. She's not sentimental at all. Even if she's had a hangbag since my sister was born, she wouldn't have a problem letting me use it or selling it or giving it away to my cousins in the Philippines. My mother doesn't care who gives her things, prime example of course being my ring. I remember clearly going with my father and my sister to the mall to pick out the ring and the earrings that matched. He tried so hard to pick the perfect matches, to pick something unique and tasteful, and he didn't even let money be a limiting factor. And yet, after my mother's birthday, the earrings and the ring sat on top of her dresser, unwrapped, (my mother, being who she is, already knew ahead of time that my father was stupid enough to waste money on jewelry for her when it could've contributed to another handbag or her plants or something else pointless that she'd want to spend money on. Yes, if you didn't catch on, my mother is extremely materialistic) for days on end, which turned steadily into weeks. My father was kind of sad about this, torn. On the one side, he never returned it despite her constant commands to do so, because he was secretly hoping that she'd break and open them and wear it, but of course my mother is stubborn as well as materialistic, so she never did wear them. So, instead I asked my mother about the ring, and she gave it to me. So, now I wear it. My father teases me sometimes about how it was supposed to be for my mother and I was just mooching off of her, but I know that he feels better knowing that the gesture wasn't completely ignored. It's been four years now, and I've been wearing this ring everyday since it's arrival. It's extremely special to me. I constantly check probably every five minutes that's it's still on my hand, and on the rare occasions I have it off (to play piano, wrists and hands have to be completely bare. What a drag!) my hand feels naked without it. Fact is, yes there are people who will never let go of their traditions simply because of sentimental or comfort purposes but there are others who really don't give two flying you-know-whats.
Kaitlin -
ReplyDeleteI feel really dumb after reading your blog, because when reading this quote I didn't even think of the role society plays when it comes to rituals. You make a very good point that society sends out a standard that we all believe we "have" to follow. This brings me back to a journal entry back in freshman year. Mrs. Rock asked us if there were no repercussions, what part of the hygiene process would we eliminate, which brought us to a huge discussion about what society expects people to do. Like they "expect" girls to have no hair on their bodies and they "expect" people to shower everyday. I didn't even think of that stuff when I read it. Good job! :)
Brittany -
ReplyDelete"They’re not necessarily bad things; it just becomes a norm in our lives."
For some reason this didn't sit well with me. I completely agree with the fact that change and structure could both be good or bad or maybe just harmless or not beneficial at all, but bringing in the part about it becoming the "norm" in our lives brought my mind to another place, which I'm not saying is a bad thing, it's good, because it's making me think. Hah it kind of makes me uncomfortable remembering that there are things that people constantly do that will soon become us. Kind of like the whole technology phenomenon, how soon using kindles and being completely reliant on cell phones will completely become us. There are things like that that will soon become us, and it's scary, isn't it? Hah well, to me it is.
BY HANNAH
ReplyDeleteI think a ritual is the certain procedure people follow when going about things. For example, before every soccer game I have a ritual that I do because I just feel like it helps me play better. I always take two minutes to lay in the grass with my friend and just empty my mind of everything that I know that doesn't have to do with soccer. Then, we say a little prayer, kiss my mom's memorial card that was given out at her funeral, and tape it to the inside of our shin pads. I definitely cling to this because when I don't get the chance to do so I don't feel like my mom is there watching. If she's not there I can't play to my full potential and I don't try as hard. I don't NEED to do this, but I feel like I do.
Some may argue that this is a type of routine- but it's not. In my eyes, a routine is something that you have to do. You have to take a test every Wednesday in lang, you have to do your homework, you have to take a shower, and you have to go to bed. A ritual is something you do for yourself because you want to (or you could do it for/with other people). People tend to cling to rituals because in a way they seem almost magic. When we are faced with situations, struggles, or stress we can use the help of our “magic” rituals to help us succeed. Even if they don't help, it helps to feel like you tried your hardest and it's not your fault you couldn't prevail. They are like a friend that helps you get through the hard times or the good times, just because you can count on them. Rituals provide a sense of hope and a sense of faith as well.
When people's rituals are messed up, they feel like they can't accomplish anything. I know this for a fact because it has happened to me. One time when my friend who I perform my ritual with wasn't at the game I felt lost. I honestly played like complete crap because for some reason I didn't feel like I had any hope at all. The ritual also gave me something to blame my faults on. Since I couldn't do my ritual, I told myself I'm playing so badly because of that, which is a lie. All of the times I messed up would have happened in one way or another, whether I performed my ritual or not. I guess it's all in your head because I could have played a lot better if I didn't worry about anything and just played.
BY HANNAH
Kristen -
ReplyDelete"But if you love something or someone so much, how can we live without it?"
I agree with you here. I mean, it's easier (well, maybe not easier) to let someone go knowing that they've done everything they can for you and that your journey is done, but no one ever really knows that. My friend lost her father a couple of months ago, and most of the reason she was distraught was that she felt like she wasn't done yet, she wasn't done learning from him and wasn't done being raised by him and she wasn't ready to let him go, but she had to, it couldn't be helped. But even now that he's gone, she's still learning from him and that's a beautiful thing. On the other hand, my mother lost her parents when I was young, and one of the things she told me was that it wasn't easy, but it was doable. It was okay for her to let them go because she knows that she's had a long journey with them, the journey was complete, and they've given her everything they could and she's given them the same, they were happy. That didn't make it any easier to lose them, but it held her back from cursing her brains out to the heavens because God took her too early. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think it's easier to let go of things when you know you've done your best with them, which is what Enzo feels. Enzo knows that he's done everything he could for Denny and that this is his time.
I don’t think “rituals” is the right word to be using in this situation. What Enzo was trying to say was that everyone gets so locked into the way things are each day that it becomes impossible to depart from the norm. People, in essence, trap themselves in routines, deepening the rut they find themselves in each and every day. However, the word ritual holds a slightly religious connotation for me, making this quote seem inappropriate for the situation. Rituals are still things that are carried out without much thought, but they are different than routines in that they usually deal with deeply seated beliefs. Last time I went to my brother’s Greek Orthodox church (which was a long time ago), everyone who entered kissed a painting of Mary. This is a ritual. Unlike routines, it is not done simply out of fear of change, or the lack of drive to change. This ritual represents the reverence the Greek Orthodox church has for Mary (Note at the end explaining this example). If Enzo had said “people and their routines”, though, he would have been entirely correct.
ReplyDeleteAs for the second part of the quote, Enzo was spot on. People do cling to things too much sometimes. I know I do, and oftentimes it is the worst possible thing to do. Dwelling in the past, worrying about something that cannot be changed, leads to neglect for the present. By neglecting the present, people often create more problems that they will have to dwell on later. This endless cycle takes over many a life, but it could be avoided entirely if people learned how to let go. A lot of this book (so far anyway) has been about letting go, and being able to do so is a very important life skill that many never master. I struggle with this myself, often worrying about things for months after they already happened, but I’m getting better. Hopefully, by the end of this book, Enzo can shed some light on how to get out of this habit.
Note that I referred to earlier: I haven’t been to a church in years. My brother attends a Greek Orthodox church regularly (very long story behind why), and soon he is going to become an ordained priest. I had to attend his conversion ceremony at the church several years ago, which is basically the only thing I remember about any church anywhere. This example was one of the only things I know about rituals in church, so it was all I could use. Also note that we are not Greek in any way. He and his girlfriend converted because their beliefs lined up with the Greeks’. I suppose being a little weird runs in the family…
KTG (from Hannah)- I think a lot of people have that problem that they cling to certain things even though they "have no use for them." Other people just don't understand that there is a use for them- it's to help remember some good times so they aren't forgotten. I have a pair of cleats that I wore from last years soccer season when we made it to the championships. They're completely ripped up and taped and there's no way I'm ever wearing them again. But, I still have them in my closet. They're taking up space where I could fit my new cleats, but I want to save them for the memories.
ReplyDeleteKristen D:
ReplyDeleteMy mother is smart. She knows I couldn't pull the plug on her, so she made my brother the one responsible for that. I agree with you that it is harder for people to let go if they love something. Theoretically, we should be able to let go more easily because we realize how much they are suffering, but realistically, we are selfish. We want them to stay around as long as possible, because without them, we feel alone. Maybe it's not like that for everyone, though.
Kristen (from Hannah)-
ReplyDelete"But if you love something or someone so much, how can we live without it?"
I, like Alexis, think that these situations are "doable." I know you don't mean it literally, like we could just drop dead if we lost our phone because we love it. I guess you mean that it would be extremely hard to go on. I think it's a matter of how you can handle it; if you can comfort yourself and tell yourself that it's going to be ok, you will probably be fine. But if you're tellign yourself you can't live without something then your personality will completely change and it will most likely be a negative change at that. At first when people lose something that they love they really do feel like they can't live without it, but then they continue to live life and realize that they're actually going to be ok without it, although they wish they could have it back.
Alexis (from Hannah)- As I was writing my blog there was one word that I realllly wanted to use, but I couldn't think of it. I just drew a complete blank and if I hadn't my blog would probably be a lot better. But you had the word I was looking for- sentimental!!! I, too, think that rituals are sentimental things that we cling to because they have a special meaning to us that no one else can understand. Other people think they're silly but it's because they don't see the sentimental value. THANK YOU for using that word I was going crazy trying to think about it.
ReplyDeleteShirley N:
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say dogs aren't dependent on each other. There aren't many wild dogs in the woods, but wolves are the next closest thing, and they are pack animals. There is a power structure in each pack, with the alpha male on top and everyone else below him. They depend on each other to a certain extent for survival. Sure, they could survive on their own (given they weren't really weak) but so could we, at least for a while. Even dogs, which are domesticated wolves, depend on people. They are so loyal to their owners because the owners are the "alpha males" in their life. I don't think it is entirely fair to discredit Enzo's ideas just because he is a dog. In this book, dogs understand some fine points of human life, and even if this wasn't true, what Enzo "says" is actually written by a person. He uses a dog as a vehicle for his message, but ultimately, it is just commentary on humanity by another human. What's so bad about that?
I can’t live without rituals. They make me, me. It’s not that I’m scared they’ll affect my daily social life. I have rituals in the name of softball. I never take more than one practice swing. I always sit in the same seat if we keep doing well, and I never listen to music before games. I’ll admit it. I find security in these rituals. It sounds crazy, but I don’t want something bad to happen to the tea, because I didn’t perform a specific elementary action. Rituals to me are a way to replicate something amazing that may have happened before. I need to hold on to the good times for as long as possible.
ReplyDeleteEnzo was dead accurate in his assumption that rituals provide us with a sense of security. I wouldn’t be the same person without my unwavering attachment and belief in rituals. Anyway, in a world where false hope and heartache run ramped, what’s wrong with finding a little security?
Enzo pertains to a fact that I believe whole heartedly, for without my “rituals” that make me feel comfortable and make my day feel customary, I would be a mess. I often wake up at the same exact time, and do the exact same things every morning. The ritual I cling to the hardest is showering in the morning. The thought of going out the house without showering is beyond my comprehension of what I consider to be comfortable living. I can’t even take a shower at night because I just have this need to refresh myself, to get me going. I as well as many others go through daily routines and practices in order to maintain some sort of balance in life. However, when Enzo speaks of only humans clinging to rituals, isn’t it true for all living beings? Wouldn’t the instinct based, daily practices that all organisms go through, be considered sorts of rituals that they cling to? My dog Edgar clings to his rituals just as hard as I do. He gets up every morning at 6:20, goes outside to pee, eats, goes outside to poop, and a couple minutes after to walk around before being put in his room. (Room being our unused dining room, so he doesn’t chew the house to shreds.) If somehow I overslept and no one was to let him out at 6:20, he would start crying and freaking out. He is patient for a little while, but by 7:00, all hell has broken loose and he is outright barking to be let out. All types of animals obtain a certain type of routine that is stuck by in order to keep balance in life, and for those in the wild equilibrium must be used in order to survive. A majority of wild animals have homes, though some not permanent the ritual of finding another place to live is a ritual. Animals such as a lion will spend most of the day sleeping, but will hunt, tend to the young, and do the necessary things in order to survive. I see rituals as not really things that are only human-based unnecessary things such as having a mocha-latte-java-roasted-bean-coffee every day, but a way to function and conform to daily happenings whether it is a human or animal.
ReplyDeleteKristen, I have to disagree. Maybe it's just me, but I think about my rituals too much. I spend so much time worrying about doing things a certain way that some would say it's out of hand. I, however don't think it is. I just like to think I have control over my own destiny.
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ReplyDeleteChrissy,
ReplyDeleteI agree that to some capacity we have rituals to be accepted, nut that's not the main reason. I'm not becoming any more accepted by putting my makeup on before I do my hair in the morning. Rituals create a sense of security. I feel like by doing things in a certain way and trying to replicate previous results, I have control over my own life.
Enzo pertains to a fact that I believe whole heartedly, for without my “rituals” that make me feel comfortable and make my day feel customary, I would be a mess. I often wake up at the same exact time, and do the exact same things every morning. The ritual I cling to the hardest is showering in the morning. The thought of going out the house without showering is beyond my comprehension of what I consider to be comfortable living. I can’t even take a shower at night because I just have this need to refresh myself, to get me going. I as well as many others go through daily routines and practices in order to maintain some sort of balance in life. However, when Enzo speaks of only humans clinging to rituals, isn’t it true for all living beings? Wouldn’t the instinct based, daily practices that all organisms go through, be considered sorts of rituals that they cling to? My dog Edgar clings to his rituals just as hard as I do. He gets up every morning at 6:20, goes outside to pee, eats, goes outside to poop, and a couple minutes after to walk around before being put in his room. (Room being our unused dining room, so he doesn’t chew the house to shreds.) If somehow I overslept and no one was to let him out at 6:20, he would start crying and freaking out. He is patient for a little while, but by 7:00, all hell has broken loose and he is outright barking to be let out. All types of animals obtain a certain type of routine that is stuck by in order to keep balance in life, and for those in the wild equilibrium must be used in order to survive. A majority of wild animals have homes, though some not permanent the ritual of finding another place to live is a ritual. Animals such as a lion will spend most of the day sleeping, but will hunt, tend to the young, and do the necessary things in order to survive. I see rituals as not really things that are only human-based unnecessary things such as having a mocha-latte-java-roasted-bean-coffee every day, but a way to function and conform to daily happenings whether it is a human or animal.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read this part of the book I thought it was a little funny that Enzo was the criticizing people for their rituals when my dog, Rosie, has many obvious and strange habits. Everyday around 10 o'clock she starts jumping up on my dad begging to be taken for a walk at Stockton. Every night we sit down to dinner and she makes her way under my mom's chair, reminding us she has to be fed too. When she eats she takes a few pieces of food in her mouth, carefully trots over to the rug the dining room table is on, eats the food, then goes back to her bowl for more, only to repeat the process again. Not only does Rosie hold to rituals such as these, but she is immediately suspicious of anything out of the ordinary. It could be a few turkeys in our back yard (yes, there are wandering turkeys in Port) or we could simply rearrange our furniture, and the fur will stick up on her back while she creeps cautiously around, investigating the situation. She knows the car routes to her favorite walking destinations, and she becomes nervous when she cannot recognize where we are going. On longer trips, like to my grandparents' house in North Carolina, she whines when one of us leave the car, even if my dad is filling up the gas tank and is clearly visible out the back window. Rosie even begins to whimper at red lights, fear the stopping of the car means one of her family members leaving. The important thing to remember is that although Rosie's routines, rituals, and habits seem silly to us, they are important to her. People do the same thing. I know I have rituals that may not make sense to other people, but make perfect sense to me. My theory on why people have their rituals is because it is something they can control. When they feel like everything else is out of control, they know their ritual is always going to be there for them to carry out. I think it's healthy, to an extent. People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder takes rituals to an excessive level. Sometimes holding on to things becomes unhealthy. As it crumbles out of our control we blame ourselves, when it was never our fault in the first place.
ReplyDeleteJessie,
ReplyDeleteI like the way you describe out need for rituals as a need for grounding and control. I couldn't have said it better myself. Actuallty, I didn't! Haha, well anyway, you have the same exact viewpoint as me and thank you for that! I feel less crazy now that someone else has the same kinds of rituals as me!
Deanna N:
ReplyDeleteEnzo does point out obvious things a lot. In fact, this is why I don't really say much during discussion. I like the book, but I don't feel like it introduces any concepts that I didn't already understand. For example, it is pretty obvious from the beginning of our lives that we control our own destinies. School is a constant reminder of this, because our grades are a direct reflection of whether we work or not. For a more personal example, I used to be fat. Granted, I wasn't on the brink of death, but I was overweight by more than a few pounds. Since then, however, I have become quite healthy, and it all happened because of my own will power. People have a lot of control over their lives, and many of Enzo's observations reinforce this. However, that is basically all it does-it reinforces an idea that was already pretty firmly planted in my head. For those looking for confirmation and self-confidence, this book is great, but I don't think it can necessarily be treated as a work full of revolutionary ideas. It presents ideas in a unique way, through the racing metaphor, and it makes for a good read, but in the end, it just repeats ideas that many have already had. I apologize in advance, Ms. Bunje, for many awkward silences (my specialty), but I still don't know how to make anything interesting out of something I can't argue for or against.
Gwen C:
ReplyDelete"Rituals do not only have to provide a sense of security. It can bring about comfort, sanity, and even individuality."
I think the same thing. There's nothing wrong with holding a few rituals to make yourself feel comfortable with your life and who you are. The important thing is to remember when to let things go and when to things get to far. If you're checking to make sure your oven is off fifteen times before each time you leave the house, you are no longer in control of the ritual, it controls you.
Rituals provides that sense of comfort, that when you don’t perform it your day seems so incomplete. I see it more as something that is done for pleasure because one chooses to create a ritual and keep it alive for their own benefit-- again for comfort. I can definitely see how people, who have their own rituals, would cling so hard on to them. Who wouldn’t? It gives people a constant as opposed to the spontaneous variables that people are not accustomed to. Constancy equals comfort which equals rituals. That’s just how I see it. For instance, the bond between Enzo and Denny. It is strong like an unbreakable chain regardless of the force and number of times you hammer on it. It is visible how much they both adore each other, and with that said their bond would be considered like a ritual. To see each other (well most of the time), to connect everyday with the one thing they love to do which is watching racecar tapes. It’s comforting for them both, it’s a constant every time Denny comes home from an eventful race and they both enjoy their time together. Poor Enzo will have to break the ritual soon that Denny has been so attached to for so long.
ReplyDeleteTaylor P:
ReplyDelete"The people (or animals) in our lives are like suction cups, once they’ve stuck, it’s hard to pull them off; once they’re gone the mark they leave never goes away."
This is such a great way of putting it, and I agree. It's obvious from Enzo's explanation that Denny would do everything to keep him alive that En is worried about Denny's ability to let him go. Your response reminds me of what we were talking about in class, how experiences add to us AKA the tool that changing tool.
Lucas:
ReplyDeleteI did not really break the quote apart as you did, but I agree with what you analyzed the second part to be. How people dwell in the past far too much, it has become the downfall of many people to think about how things could be different changing the past. Often not realizing to forget what cannot be changed and attempt to make the future better.
Alexis:
I believe that rituals, like habits are things that must be done, a sort of routine for everybody in order for their day to go as planned. I usually don’t think of rituals as things that people go out of their way to do, but just the bare minimum that makes living more comfortable. Though rituals are considered in your context, to be wearing lucky underwear to do better on a test, but I perceive the word by which Enzo uses it as just taking showers, and getting dressed in the morning, rituals that to him would seem unnecessary—hence the reason for using the word rituals instead of routine.
Shirley:
I totally agree with your blog, in the sense that from Enzo’s point of view, he doesn’t understand what it is to be a human and how necessary our “rituals” have come to be in our society. Something that seems so pointless and a waste of time to him, is actually what we see as a given in daily living.
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ReplyDelete“Rituals” is the wrong word. When people say rituals, I think of nonsense routines linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder. They are nonsense in the sense that they are pointless and don’t accomplish anything. Most people don’t have rituals. We have schedules and preferences. Everyday seems to follow a schedule—wake, school, (insert what you do here), sleep. We have schedules because schedules help us manage our time and organize our lives. Schedules develop almost unconsciously as our minds and bodies demand a sense of control, eventually falling into circadian rhythms.
ReplyDeleteWhile schedules evolve unconsciously, actions incorporate themselves into schedules consciously. This is where preference comes into play. Our preferences determine the actions within our schedules. We do what we prefer to do. We include into our schedule actions that we prefer. Some actions, like teeth brushing, are preferred among many people, but other actions, like drawing, are unique.
Combined together, our preferences and our schedules create the illusion of patterns in our lives. There are no rituals. No routines. There are schedules and preferences.
What happened? On the main page, it says 72 comments, but when I open this page, it only says 57. I posted all three of my comments, and I saw them on this page, but then I refreshed it, and they were gone. Is that just me, or are they all gone?
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ReplyDeleteBritney O:
ReplyDeleteThat’s an interesting point, that rituals have to change. But your ritual made it sound as if it was like a routine, instead. How would you distinguish between the two? Or would there be no difference at all? I don’t believe they have to change, I think you can change them if you want them too. I guess it all depends on how you define ritual :D
Robert F:
I could not agree more with the difference between ritual and routine. That’s kind of what my blog was about. Anyways I find it interesting how you believe that Enzo will be happy to be a socially isolated human being, I’ve always found him the gregarious type or maybe dogs are supposed to be depicted that way in general. And I don’t believe rituals is an immature way to cope with reality, I mean how else can you deal with the harsh reality? That’s why we have religion and rituals among those, to give reason, to have faith. I don’t know if I’m making my point but other than that well done!
Uroosa:
I like your simplicity in the blog! And I bet this is the one thing we can all agree on “rituals invoke no fear”. Rituals are suppose to be comforting to the person doing the ritual, so fear has no place in it.
Jourdan:
I’m glad I read yours, because I, 100 percent, agree with your first paragraph. This is exactly how I felt as the ritual to be between Enzo and Denny, you demonstrated this much better than me. However, I don’t completely agree or disagree with the rest of it. In fact you showed me a different outlook with a different definition it just all made sense on here. So I thank you!
KTG:
ReplyDelete"Still, even though I'm throwing things in the trash left and right, I find an item that I just can't bare to throw away."
This is exactly what Enzo is talking about when he says "The cling to things so hard sometimes." Everyone clings to things, and you're right, I don't think it's odd to want to hold on to something. Memories hold our experiences, and if experiences shape who we are it makes sense that we would want to remember it, even if it's through a physical medium, like an old toy.
Lauren - I love the passion you have for this book. You and I talked about it the other day, and I could see how much you love it, just like me! I love when books do this, I feel like I'm reading about someone's life and I want to meet them! Haha. Don't you feel like dogs talk now?
ReplyDeleteKaitlin - As I agree somewhat with your comment, I can see how much of a math person you are. (In a good way though!) I think you're keeping a narrow view of rituals though; you're linking them with routine, right? Although I do understand and agree with that, I think there's something more. It sucks since I can't explain it, but there's something less mathematical to it.. to me at least.
ReplyDeleteHmm, rituals. We all have them, those specific ways we do things that distinguishes each of us from one another. The way we eat, the way we brush our teeth, the way we do our homework, the way we study for a test, etc. Nobody does anything the same as another person, thus nobody's rituals are the same. However, in some cases rituals do apply to a whole group of people. For example, New Years celebrations are vastly different all over the world. In China, their rituals involve things like making a giant dragon that will participate in a parade where everyone gathers. In the United States, celebrate with parties and the watching of the ball drop. Both cultures do celebrate the holiday, however they do it differently, and the reason is rituals. When rituals are messed with or removed, people tend to not know how to do things. Rituals bring solace to a person. It is something they are familiar with and that is distinct to him or her. It's almost like this little "ocd" thing we all have.
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ReplyDeleteBrittany - I think your definition and expanation of the word "routine" was what I needed. I often feel like it's used as an OCD thing that we do everyday, but the way you explained it helped me. So thanks! Anyway, I agree completely! I love how you say that it becomes who we are - I guess that's why I got lost in it in the first place, since it is me and not just a routine anymore!
ReplyDeleteWhile it may be true that humans tend to cling to things sometimes, I don’t believe that the idea of “clinging” to something should have been so negatively portrayed. I feel like the phrase, when provided by Enzo, has a very negative connotation, I was given the impression that Enzo is insulting the way that humans cling to things in a way that only an outsider could.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that some “clingings” end negatively, but not all habitual actions or common goals end in a negative light or even follow a negative path for that matter. While I can find many universal truths in the simplified notions Enzo shares, I found this one to be neither universally true nor pertinent in context to the story.
“Rituals” can often define someone and give their life meaning. The pursuit of a goal or continued struggle to achieve one’s passion could easily be considered rituals, and neither of these actions will harm an individual in the long run. The love and care two individuals share can be considered ritual, and an assault on this bond is naught but pessimistic. The daily rituals involved in the average day either make little to no difference on any larger outcome, or pertain in entirety to one’s life or passions. Either way, I don’t think the idea should have been so negatively portrayed. The ideas and habits humans cling to often define their individuality and give purpose to their seemingly monotonous lives.
"People and their rituals. They cling so hard to things sometimes."
ReplyDeleteEnzo, teach me about life.
Anyway, this quote reminds me of another quote from the Dark Knight:
"Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It's fair!"
If Enzo got the role of Joker in The Dark Knight I'd be thrilled. Anyway, What Enzo is saying is very similar to the Joker's quote, just in different context. The Joker is talking about humans from an insane human point of view, not quite alien but definately beyond average. Enzo is giving his insight from an entirely unhuman view.
People have to have normalcy and repetition (Enzo refers to repetition later on in the novel...a few times actually) to be comfortable. When we are facing a problem or experiencing something that we do not typically or which is odd for that time/place we bug out and panic which ties in with the "fear of the unknown" mentality we have. We have yet to face these problems so we dont know the answers and we thus fear that uncertainty.
Enzo and the Joker merely point it out. Since life is full of these fearful moments of "holyshitIhavenoideawhatshappening", people cling to the constants, the traditions that never change, that are predictable and safe.
Real world example, My life has been on a slight downhill for a good long time. Because of all these unhappy changes, I've developed a serious dislike of ANYTHING that changes, even if the outcomes might be good, I just sorta panic and get miserable. Anyway, this christmas past the family and I went to Jamaica. You'd think I'd be psyched out of my mind and in a way I was, but I couldn't shake the dread that welled up inside me. I've always had christmas at my house, I've always had a christmas tree and christmas brunch in my living room. Aunties and other available family memebers swooned over my brothers and (sometimes) me until the afternoon and then Christmas dinner was spent at my godfather's lovely little McMansiony thing.
I loved Christmases like that, and now I wasn't going to have it. Instead I was going to be in gorgeous Jamaica with the beach and the ocean and warmth and pools and all kidns of cool stuff....but I wanted to stay home.
Pathetic.
But t'is the nature of humanity, which I am a part of.
P.S. sorry if it was rolling and ranting...stream of consciousness.
AND my spacebar gets stuck so any merged words are the fault of my icky keyboard. sorry.
Lucas: "I don’t think “rituals” is the right word to be using in this situation." Did you read my mind? That's the first thing that stuck out ot me. Although I pointed out the example of teeth brushing being inappropriate in describing a ritual, you saying the word ritual is irrelevant makes my opinion clearer in my own mind. Thanks for that! Sometimes I confuse myself.
ReplyDeleteSimon: While I thought the word ritual was odd, I never thought of the word 'schedule.' This completely changed the meaning of the quote for me, so I'm really happy you threw that word in there. I don't believe that rituals don't exist, but I do believe that routines are almost constantly mistaken for them.
Kaitlin: I loved your first paragraph, because you just made the discussion more catholic. I never thought of rituals as a way for humans to mask their insecurity in immutability. Clever. Wow. I feel like my mind just imploded, haha. After reading your blog, I think that the word ritual has changed for me. Thanks for that!
I love this book. And I love that quote. I agree with it wholeheartedly. I do so because, as Brittany says, rituals become a part of who we are. We cling to them because we're so used to it. It's as simple as when we eat, or when we shower or who we talk to. It becomes effortless to us; and who doesn't like something effortless in this stressful world? I know I do.
ReplyDeleteI love Enzo. He has made me look at my dogs, Tinkerbelly and Allie Bo Ballie Head, differently and love them even more. I always played with them, but now I have made it a routine. I do it more often. As this quote seems to have a bad sense with using the word "cling", I'd like to think rituals aren't always bad. I'm clinging to the things I love most and I don't see the harm in that. Maybe I'm being narrow-minded, but I don't see rituals and routines as the most harmful.
Sarah C- "I can’t live without rituals. They make me, me."
ReplyDeleteI think rituals distinguishes one person or group from another. The different ways we do things are distinct to personalities and are a part of a person. I don't know why, but I remember in "The Parent Trap" whenthe twins were in the camp and they got their meals. When they sat down, they organized the food in the tray a certain way, which was their own ritual that differentiated them from the others.
Kaitlin H- "Rituals exist because of modern society."
I can see what you mean, however I have a different perception on this. I actually don't blame society for rituals. Rituals are not standards because standards are kind of like set expectations where as rituals are individual ways of doing things. I think you can live up to standards by going to certain rituals, though. I think rituals set a person or group apart from the rest of society. For example, each culture is filled with different rituals, thus making them unique in their own way.
Jourdan~
ReplyDeleteI love how you think. Its very much yourself. Maybe I should have read these blogs first, since mine doesn't quite match up, but I'll still stand by my initial reaction to the quote instead of following someone elses idea. ANYWAY, I didn't think about the word rituals very much. My mind simply converted it into traditions...why I do not know. But yourpoint is very well said when you adress it in context to Enzo's longing to die. You relate it less to a daily ritual, like teeth brushing, and more to a personal, emotional phenomena like death and the rituals of it and friends. I think that this particular ritual Enzo is reffering to is the lengthening of life. Which, now that I ponder it, changes the meaning of the quote for me. Thanks Jourdan. =P
Hmm, rituals. We all have them, those specific ways we do things that distinguishes each of us from one another. The way we eat, the way we brush our teeth, the way we do our homework, the way we study for a test, etc. Nobody does anything the same as another person, thus nobody's rituals are the same. However, in some cases rituals do apply to a whole group of people. For example, New Years celebrations are vastly different all over the world. In China, their rituals involve things like making a giant dragon that will participate in a parade where everyone gathers. In the United States, celebrate with parties and the watching of the
ReplyDeleteball drop. Both cultures do celebrate the holiday, however they do it differently, and the reason is rituals. When rituals are messed
with or removed, people tend to not know how to do things. Rituals bring solace to a person. It is something they are familiar with and that is distinct to him or her. It's almost like this little "ocd" thing we all have.
If were talking about ritual with a religious connotation like we did in class I believe that the quote holds true. Whether it makes sense or not people cling to rituals. Will it really make you life better if you pray every-night? I don't think so, but I'm an outcast labeled as an "atheist". I resent this title. You see I don't not believe in a higher power, I just don't think it is the way any religion lays it out. I feel closest to Buddhism, but even that religion takes it to far. Wow I went off on a tangent. Bottom line is that I feel people use rituals to try and pretend they can control the uncontrollable,"If I pray every night, bad things won't happen to me" Wrong!
ReplyDeleteAyanda: I enjoyed your post and agreed with most of your points. I liked the fact that you deem most rituals neither ridiculous nor dangerous. I was intrigued by your idea that rituals bring a sense of control to an individual, an idea I had never even considered. That idea makes sense to me and adds a new layer of thought to the topic. I also enjoyed your reference to the sacrificing of " any individual or small, furry animal".
ReplyDeleteShirley: I was also slightly annoyed with Enzo's narrow-minded approach to this particular idea. I also agree that rituals have many benefits that are apparantly hard to see by an outsider such as Enzo. I could sense a hint of the idea "that which you manifest is before you" in your final lines stating that Denny cannot control everything so he might as well do his best with the things he can control. I agree with this idea and its relation to the novel as a whole.
Simon: I can understand the points you make and think its amazing how many different opinions and ideas we can each have as seperate individuals. Yours was the first post that I could easily tell opposes the ideas expressed in the quote and while I disagree with the most basic premises of your post, I can understand and respect it. Your post brought new light to the mundane, almost identical posts of many others, while at the same time presenting a logical and educated idea.
While it may be true that humans tend to cling to things sometimes, I don’t believe that the idea of “clinging” to something should have been so negatively portrayed. I feel like the phrase, when provided by Enzo, has a very negative connotation, I was given the impression that Enzo is insulting the way that humans cling to things in a way that only an outsider could.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that some “clingings” end negatively, but not all habitual actions or common goals end in a negative light or even follow a negative path for that matter. While I can find many universal truths in the simplified notions Enzo shares, I found this one to be neither universally true nor pertinent in context to the story.
“Rituals” can often define someone and give their life meaning. The pursuit of a goal or continued struggle to achieve one’s passion could easily be considered rituals, and neither of these actions will harm an individual in the long run. The love and care two individuals share can be considered ritual, and an assault on this bond is naught but pessimistic. The daily rituals involved in the average day either make little to no difference on any larger outcome, or pertain in entirety to one’s life or passions. Either way, I don’t think the idea should have been so negatively portrayed. The ideas and habits humans cling to often define their individuality and give purpose to their seemingly monotonous lives.
Kristen D- "But if you love something or someone so much, how can we live without it?"
ReplyDeleteWell, you know this caught my eye, Kristen. Haha. But honestly, it depends on how you view death. Like, for me, death is the ultimate peace where everything can be quiet and beautiful... the Paradise part. In your case, the person may have said that because they want you to know that when it gets to the point where it's time for the person to die, you should help them get to that ultimate peace rather than letting them lay there, living through machines, doing nothing. I mean, I understand that for you it would be hard, but sometimes you have to think about what's good for the one you love too. :)
Rituals provides that sense of comfort, that when you don’t perform it your day seems so incomplete. I see it more as something that is done for pleasure because one chooses to create a ritual and keep it alive for their own benefit-- again for comfort. I can definitely see how people, who have their own rituals, would cling so hard on to them. Who wouldn’t? It gives people a constant as opposed to the spontaneous variables that people are not accustomed to. Constancy equals comfort which equals rituals. That’s just how I see it. For instance, the bond between Enzo and Denny. It is strong like an unbreakable chain regardless of the force and number of times you hammer on it. It is visible how much they both adore each other, and with that said their bond would be considered like a ritual. To see each other (well most of the time), to connect everyday with the one thing they love to do which is watching racecar tapes. It’s comforting for them both, it’s a constant every time Denny comes home from an eventful race and they both enjoy their time together. Poor Enzo will have to break the ritual soon that Denny has been so attached to for so long.
ReplyDeletePeople cling to rituals because it’s the only variable throughout their day that they can completely control. Going to school or work each day presents new obstacles and challenges, these “variables” have no controlled out come and therefore scare us. Rituals on the other hand are completely controlled so we comfortable with them. Every time I read this quote I always remember another one from the Dark Knight’s Joker,
ReplyDelete“Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets. Hmmm? You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan." But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds!”
I really believe this quote speaks a lot about rituals or the “plan” that people have in their everyday lives. Rituals are the same way, as soon as we step out of our comfort zone that’s when things go wrong.
Britney O:
ReplyDeleteThat’s an interesting point, that rituals have to change. But your ritual made it sound as if it was like a routine, instead. How would you distinguish between the two? Or would there be no difference at all? I don’t believe they have to change, I think you can change them if you want them too. I guess it all depends on how you define ritual :D
Robert F:
I could not agree more with the difference between ritual and routine. That’s kind of what my blog was about. Anyways I find it interesting how you believe that Enzo will be happy to be a socially isolated human being, I’ve always found him the gregarious type or maybe dogs are supposed to be depicted that way in general. And I don’t believe rituals is an immature way to cope with reality, I mean how else can you deal with the harsh reality? That’s why we have religion and rituals among those, to give reason, to have faith. I don’t know if I’m making my point but other than that well done!
Uroosa:
I like your simplicity in the blog! And I bet this is the one thing we can all agree on “rituals invoke no fear”. Rituals are suppose to be comforting to the person doing the ritual, so fear has no place in it.
Jourdan:
I’m glad I read yours, because I, 100 percent, agree with your first paragraph. This is exactly how I felt as the ritual to be between Enzo and Denny, you demonstrated this much better than me. However, I don’t completely agree or disagree with the rest of it. In fact you showed me a different outlook with a different definition it just all made sense on here. So I thank you!
Lucas~
ReplyDelete<3 gosh I adored your post. One, it was long like mine. Two, I followed and agreed with your thoughts. Three, they inspired new thoughts in me. Thanks!
Im glad you interpreted the word rituals like I did; Im also glad you elaborated on why you did so thoroughly because I neglected to do that. I too asociate rituals with religion or spiritual/intangible actions...like...birth, death, morals, beliefs, prayer etc.
Youremind me a little bit of Enzo. The way you explained the rut we can get into because of traditions seemed Enzo-y. Or maybe Enzo is Lucas-y. Hm...
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ReplyDeleteThis is random…It’s just what I thought of when I read the quote.
ReplyDeleteMy room is symbolic of my state of being.
Before delving further into this revelation I would like to explain one interesting faucet of my personality; I love and thrive on clutter. I love my room messy (not dirty, just messy). I love when my clothes are in various drawers and cabinets. I love when my accessories and my make-up is scrawled all over my dressing table. I love it when I have to step over the multiple books on my floor to go to bed at night. Clutter is personal. It is imperfect. It is human. My clutter and mess in essence is a reflection of my personality. It is ME.
With that said…
My room is symbolic of my state of being. When it is messy, this usually implies that I am happy and content with life. I am okay with who I am. I okay with where my life is going. I let the clutter take over, just as I give the reins of my life to fate. If my room is a mess, I am just in a great mental and emotional state of being. When I am happy, I don’t have time to waste on cleaning a room. Instead I could be reading, dancing, or watching movies. It just seems nonsensical for me to waste my time organizing what’s going to be disorganized soon enough.
Yet, once in a while my room is spotless (which is usually a desperate call for help). Why? Because I find comfort in the ritual of cleaning my room when I am upset. I can control where everything goes. When I clean my room, I am concentrating on the act so much that I can ignore the events that led up to the reorganization of my closet or papers.
When I am done with all this useless organization and cleaning, I feel a wave of loathing pass all over me. I hate that I cleaned my room because I feel like I am trying to pack away my emotions just as I packed away my t-shirts and sweater. I hate that my room does not resemble me. I hate that it is boring and I just wasted two to three hours of my life.
Then why do I clean it?
P.S. Guys thats first comment wasn't my blog, just a "thought" lol.
ReplyDeleteLet me start by first saying that Bunj, you were totally right about this book! I love it! Okay, so now that that is out of the way, I would like to say that this book is a lot deeper than I'd anticipated. Everything has a deeper meaning, including the quote. At first, of course, it appears that Enzo is discussing Denny's daily routine. But in actuality, he is discussing things in general, not just routines. He is referring to Denny's ability to let him go, which he knows he has to do. People cling to things so hard because we do not want to see them go. I clung to many a thing in times when I knew they would not last. But in the end, it is so much better to let them go; nothing that drags you down can be good for you in any way. Enzo understands this; but being a dog, he may not fully understand exactly how Denny feels in the situation.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Enzo yearns to be human, and claims to be a human in a dog's body, he does not have all of the feelings and traits and the comprehension of one. He can fully read, interpret, and understand emotions but not necessarily the way they feel and the thoughts that back them. But he tries, which is probably why this character is so admirable to me.
All throughout the novel, however, Enzo clings onto things just as Denny does. He clings more to ideas, people, and memories, rather then rituals. Clinigng to rituals provides comfort and security; ideas, people, and memories provide more of a satisfaction and happiness. We all cling to somethings, and that's a good thing, as long as it is a healthy cling, and not a creepy possessive cling. Routines are a daily thing that we may or may not change up. We don't cling to those as much as we do other things, which is a healthy habit.
Hannah~ I loved how you discerned between a ritual and a routine but just a side note I dont think all routines are something we're forced to do, but I get how saying that helped seperate the two words. Rituals are definately more personal. Associating them with magic was a pretty slick move since most rituals are done for either religious or superstitious purposes. I really liked your thinking here.
ReplyDelete(Posting for Maryam. Blogger is being mean to her. :[)
ReplyDeleteHer response:
Hmm, rituals. We all have them, those specific ways we do things that distinguishes each of us from one another. The way we eat, the way we brush our teeth, the way we do our homework, the way we study for a test, etc. Nobody does anything the same as another person, thus nobody's rituals are the same. However, in some cases rituals do apply to a whole group of people. For example, New Years celebrations are vastly different all over the world. In China, their rituals involve things like making a giant dragon that will participate in a parade where everyone gathers. In the United States, celebrate with parties and the watching of the ball drop. Both cultures do celebrate the holiday, however they do it differently, and the reason is rituals. When rituals are messed with or removed, people tend to not know how to do things. Rituals bring solace to a person. It is something they are familiar with and that is distinct to him or her. It's almost like this little "ocd" thing we all have.
To Hannah:
ReplyDeleteI liked your distinction between rituals and routines. I completely agree. A routine is mandatory, something that must be done. On the other hand, a ritual is that something that, ultimately, makes you feels better (or more comfortable). We have rituals because we want. However, routines do not necessary make one feel comfortable.
Kristie- Well I don’t think your being narrow minded at all, rituals and routines are not all bad, they provide serenity in a world that seems so crazy. No matter how your day is going you can always look forward to that ritual or routine in your life to provide much needed comfort and peace.
ReplyDeleteSarah C- I love how you incorporated softball routines into your blog post, I never really thought about it before but golf for me provides a lot of rituals. I always approach the tee box in the same manner and after a practice swing always move my club in a particular manner. It helps me concentrate on the unpredictable, how I am about to hit the ball for example. Thanks for the sports insight! I never really though about it that way before.
Roo- I liked your post because you go right to the point and didn’t delve into too much detail. I completely agree that we as humans “never fear what we know”. Everyday we encounter the same rituals over and over and therefore we have become accustomed to their nature, but as soon as we step out of our comfort zone we turn into completely different people.
(Maryam's responses)
ReplyDeleteSarah C- "I can’t live without rituals. They make me, me."
I think rituals distinguishes one person or group from another. The different ways we do things are distinct to personalities and are a part of a person. I don't know why, but I remember in "The Parent Trap" whenthe twins were in the camp and they got their meals. When they sat down, they organized the food in the tray a certain way, which was their own ritual that differentiated them from the others.
Kaitlin H- "Rituals exist because of modern society."
I can see what you mean, however I have a different perception on this. I actually don't blame society for rituals. Rituals are not standards because standards are kind of like set expectations where as rituals are individual ways of doing things. I think you can live up to standards by going to certain rituals, though. I think rituals set a person or group apart from the rest of society. For example, each culture is filled with different rituals, thus making them unique in their own way.
Kristen D- "But if you love something or someone so much, how can we live without it?"
Well, you know this caught my eye, Kristen. Haha. But honestly, it depends on how you view death. Like, for me, death is the ultimate peace where everything can be quiet and beautiful... the Paradise part. In your case, the person may have said that because they want you to know that when it gets to the point where it's time for the person to die, you should help them get to that ultimate peace rather than letting them lay there, living through machines, doing nothing. I mean, I understand that for you it would be hard, but sometimes you have to think about what's good for the one you love too. :)
To Lauren:
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about this book. I just can’t seem to put it down either. I just feel like everyone can relate to Zo. All of us have felt unimportant, not enough, and overall ignored. It’s just what Zo feels on a day to day basis. That dog inspires to take charge of my life
“What you manifest is before you” <3
Uh my first one lide disappeared?!
ReplyDeletePeople cling to rituals because it’s the only variable throughout their day that they can completely control. Going to school or work each day presents new obstacles and challenges, these “variables” have no controlled out come and therefore scare us. Rituals on the other hand are completely controlled so we comfortable with them. Every time I read this quote I always remember another one from the Dark Knight’s Joker,
“Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets. Hmmm? You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan." But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds!”
I really believe this quote speaks a lot about rituals or the “plan” that people have in their everyday lives. Rituals are the same way, as soon as we step out of our comfort zone that’s when things go wrong.
Kristie: I love the names of your dogs, just saying! And I love how the book inspired you to spend more time with your dogs. I haven't really spent more time with mine, but I have tried talking to them, wondering if they understood me. Since they didn't respond in any way I just felt stupid. But I think I'm going to try to play with them instead :)
ReplyDeleteDeanna: "It’s simply nice to have a few things you can count on everyday to make you smile. Accordingly, I don’t believe this quote is particularly eye-opening or ground breaking..." I agree with you to a point here. It is nice to have something to make you smile, and while your routine may be what makes you personally smile, some people, such as I, can give anything as a reason to smile. Ans also, although I like the quote, I can agree that it is not too groundbreaking to eye-opening, I'll admit, I read right over it in the text. Only after thinking about it did it really stick.
Hannah: "A ritual is something you do for yourself because you want to (or you could do it for/with other people). People tend to cling to rituals because in a way they seem almost magic." I love your defintion of ritual. It seems so true; I don't have too many rituals but I have a handful of routines. I think sometimes people overlook the meaning of a ritual, like yours before a soccer game, and so they fail to truly understand how important they are.
To Bunje :
ReplyDeleteI still am not in love with Denny and I’ m on Chapter 40…!!
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ReplyDeleteRituals provides that sense of comfort, that when you don’t perform it your day seems so incomplete. I see it more as something that is done for pleasure because one chooses to create a ritual and keep it alive for their own benefit-- again for comfort. I can definitely see how people, who have their own rituals, would cling so hard on to them. Who wouldn’t? It gives people a constant as opposed to the spontaneous variables that people are not accustomed to. Constancy equals comfort which equals rituals. That’s just how I see it. For instance, the bond between Enzo and Denny. It is strong like an unbreakable chain regardless of the force and number of times you hammer on it. It is visible how much they both adore each other, and with that said their bond would be considered like a ritual. To see each other (well most of the time), to connect everyday with the one thing they love to do which is watching racecar tapes. It’s comforting for them both, it’s a constant every time Denny comes home from an eventful race and they both enjoy their time together. Poor Enzo will have to break the ritual soon that Denny has been so attached to for so long.
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ReplyDeletethis blogger isn't cooperating with me... it won't let me post my blog
ReplyDeleteRituals provides that sense of comfort, that when you don’t perform it your day seems so incomplete. I see it more as something that is done for pleasure because one chooses to create a ritual and keep it alive for their own benefit-- again for comfort. I can definitely see how people, who have their own rituals, would cling so hard on to them. Who wouldn’t? It gives people a constant as opposed to the spontaneous variables that people are not accustomed to. Constancy equals comfort which equals rituals. That’s just how I see it. For instance, the bond between Enzo and Denny. It is strong like an unbreakable chain regardless of the force and number of times you hammer on it. It is visible how much they both adore each other, and with that said their bond would be considered like a ritual. To see each other (well most of the time), to connect everyday with the one thing they love to do which is watching racecar tapes. It’s comforting for them both, it’s a constant every time Denny comes home from an eventful race and they both enjoy their time together. Poor Enzo will have to break the ritual soon that Denny has been so attached to for so long.
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ReplyDeleteKTG- . She was too beat up to give to Goodwill, but I just couldn't throw her away. I put her back at the back of the shelf as I went through my other stuffed toys.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you mentioned something that doesn't really have to be an action to be a ritual. You put the meaning in a different perspective that would also involve clinging. This doll reminded me of Enzo's dog and of my doll. When I thought about it, and came to the conclusion that the only way to keep on "clinging" was to past it on to my future daughter.
Chrissy-We want to be just like everyone else, find a place in the world, and thus we gravitate towards the appealing and accepted rituals.
You make a good point but I find it hard to believe that ALL people act the way they do to be accepted and not because that's what they feel good doing. It would make the world seem very robotic, fake, and not unique. When I read Enzo's descriptions, though he generalizes, he also puts personality and individuality in the people he views.
Brittany-Enzo and Denny have a close bond and it seems that for Denny to give up on that bond would be a difficult task. At some point in time though, as displayed, rituals along with various aspects of life must change.
I'm surprised I missed that, but after you mention the fact that Denny letting go of Enzo would be almost letting go of a ritual in his everyday life. I'm not sure if that was your goal, but it definitely popped up at me to think about.
Paola D
ReplyDeleteI brush my teeth to maintain oral health. And sometimes, when I feel extraordinarily lazy, I skip brushing my teeth. (What? That’s disgusting? Eh, you right!) So, I don’t brush out of habit. I don’t think people brush their teeth “to have familiarity and comfort in their lives.” In fact, I believe there are a good handful of people out there who despise brushing their teeth. But if people do feel comfortable from brushing, it is because they have a clean mouth—not because they performed the action. People don’t feel comfortable simply from the action of brushing. The act of running, for example, might create comfort, but not brushing.
Taylor P
I don’t get it. No, no, I get what you mean in your post. What I don’t get is why writers feel the need to write one thing, but mean another. If you freaking mean something, write it! (Unless of course, if you’re Mark Twain who needed to mask his abolitionist beliefs for safety).
Anyway, I liked your interpretation of the quote. It is creative and it shows a deeper level of thought. My question is, however, how did you arrive at that interpretation based on the context? Where in the context do you get the idea that Enzo means “things” instead of “routines?”
“I close my eyes and listen vaguely in a half sleep as he does the things he does before he sleeps each night. Brushing and squirting and splashing. So many things. People and their rituals. They cling to things so hard sometimes.”
Sarah C
Nah, your rituals don’t sound crazy. You aren’t the only person with distinct rituals. Enough people have them to justify your normality. I understand that you perform rituals for a sense of security, and I understand why they give you a sense of security. But, I think it’s all in your head. I am a firm believer that we are master of our own minds and so, I believe that with enough will, you can overcome your rituals if you truly wanted to. Although I understand that you need the rituals to help you feel secure so that you can focus on the game, I feel that it is best if you don’t divide your attention.
POOJA'S
ReplyDeleteRituals provides that sense of comfort, that when you don’t perform it your day seems so incomplete. I see it more as something that is done for pleasure because one chooses to create a ritual and keep it alive for their own benefit-- again for comfort. I can definitely see how people, who have their own rituals, would cling so hard on to them. Who wouldn’t? It gives people a constant as opposed to the spontaneous variables that people are not accustomed to. Constancy equals comfort which equals rituals. That’s just how I see it. For instance, the bond between Enzo and Denny. It is strong like an unbreakable chain regardless of the force and number of times you hammer on it. It is visible how much they both adore each other, and with that said their bond would be considered like a ritual. To see each other (well most of the time), to connect everyday with the one thing they love to do which is watching racecar tapes. It’s comforting for them both, it’s a constant every time Denny comes home from an eventful race and they both enjoy their time together. Poor Enzo will have to break the ritual soon that Denny has been so attached to for so long.
Rituals are followed because they work. Rituals, habits, routines, and the like all provide a method by which people can solve their practical problems and satisfy their basic needs. Even Enzo, as a domesticated animal, more than likely follows a set of rituals. He knows when to expect food and attention, and when his rituals are compromised (as in early in the book when Danny came home later than expected) there's definitely going to be some sort of discomfort or confusion. Rituals aren't just mindless tasks followed for no reason. Rather, they're meaningful tasks followed mindlessly so that more attention—more mind—can be spent to solve more practical problems and enjoy life. The only reasons people usually stop their habits and rituals are, as far as I can tell, when they turn into bad habits and interfere negatively with their lives, or when they just start thinking about it too much. Thinking about a habit defeats its purpose, which is probably why they're so easy to form. They form and develop subconsciously, therefore it's understandable why its so hard to dig them out of people unless there's an obvious problem with said habits.
ReplyDeleteRob F.
I agree with you that rituals give people comfort, and that people without rituals are usually unhappy and (I think) a bit insecure as well. I think rituals provide more of a worldly security than comfort, unless that comfort is unconscious, as that's the nature of most, if not all, rituals.
Kristen D.
Holding on to things in life is what makes us human. It's what makes us an active participant in our lives instead of just being an observer (like Enzo, for example). Sure life would be easier without having to hold on to things all the time, but it would also be a lot less enjoyable.
Kaitlin H.
I don't think society has facilitated the creation of rituals for people as much as people have created rituals for themselves that've just led to trends to make their lives easier. I feel like rituals are just, more or less as Rob said, coping strategies for life in general, created by people to deal with personal tasks.
Lucas- People I do feeled get warped into this ideal consistent of how to live their life. I really liked your definition yet in a sense I still cannot look at the spirtual connotation
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ReplyDeleteRituals are followed because they work. Rituals, habits, routines, and the like all provide a method by which people can solve their practical problems and satisfy their basic needs. Even Enzo, as a domesticated animal, more than likely follows a set of rituals. He knows when to expect food and attention, and when his rituals are compromised (as in early in the book when Danny came home later than expected) there's definitely going to be some sort of discomfort or confusion. Rituals aren't just mindless tasks followed for no reason. Rather, they're meaningful tasks followed mindlessly so that more attention—more mind—can be spent to solve more practical problems and enjoy life. The only reasons people usually stop their habits and rituals are, as far as I can tell, when they turn into bad habits and interfere negatively with their lives, or when they just start thinking about it too much. Thinking about a habit defeats its purpose, which is probably why they're so easy to form. They form and develop subconsciously, therefore it's understandable why its so hard to dig them out of people unless there's an obvious problem with said habits.
ReplyDeleteRob F.
I agree with you that rituals give people comfort, and that people without rituals are usually unhappy and (I think) a bit insecure as well. I think rituals provide more of a worldly security than comfort, unless that comfort is unconscious, as that's the nature of most, if not all, rituals.
Kristen D.
Holding on to things in life is what makes us human. It's what makes us an active participant in our lives instead of just being an observer (like Enzo, for example). Sure life would be easier without having to hold on to things all the time, but it would also be a lot less enjoyable.
Kaitlin H.
I don't think society has facilitated the creation of rituals for people as much as people have created rituals for themselves that've just led to trends to make their lives easier. I feel like rituals are just, more or less as Rob said, coping strategies for life in general, created by people to deal with personal tasks.
Hannah- That makes me want to create my own ritual before my cross country meet. I felt so much comfort in your ritual. That totally correlates to what I am expressing what a ritual truley brings us. Imagine not doing that ritual one game, wouldnt everything seem uncomfortable? Idk I guess that doesnt make sense but I just can feel it!
ReplyDeleteSimon- YOU totally get the ocd vibe when you think rituals. For a second I thought I was going crazy when everyone was alluding to religious connotation. I love how you refuted the whole ritual and rountine thing and came up with your own original words for the matter.
ReplyDeleteRituals are definitely used in the spiritual sense but what this quote reminded me of was that rituals represent control. The first day this was talked about everyone was talking about the spiritual component of rituals, I looked more from the control side, okay so here is why. I remember watching a show on MTV and everyone knows what it’s called TRUE LIFE : I have OCD. Immediately reading the book and Bunje asking us what this quote meant my mind popped to the daily rituals that many of them have to perform each day in order to feel comfortable and in order to in a “sense,” feel in control of their life. The one girl that was being followed on the show was afraid of her mom dying and did certain rituals that she believed would save her mom. She cannot control the death of her mom , so doing these rituals sort of gave her that control in a sense. Maybe it doesn’t make sense and trust me over and over I have been trying to relate it to spiritual means but the images and participants from the show keep coming into my mind. They remind of Denny in a sense, since I have discovered more and more about Denny’s control issues. He clings to things that he knows that he where he has power, like cars, or stupid insignificant stuff that define rituals to me. I feel that routines are more of something that you have no control over, you have control over you mess it up but it’s a necessity. It’s a vital counterpart in achieving a sufficient day. In a sense routine and ritual mean the opposite to me one is about control and one is about letting go and going with the flow just so you can get things done. I guess also in rituals we find comfort and that’s also why we hang out tightly because without them the world is a scary place that we have no control over.
ReplyDeleteI honestly posted this at 6:00 on the dot but scanning through my computer I see that nothing was on there. I really before I left made sure that my blog was posted before I left and it said it was.
ReplyDeleteI legit posted this at 6pm and even checked back to see if it was there.. I don't know what happened to it.
ReplyDeleteI need to feel like I belong. Everyday I follow the same schedule and routine. My morning ritual, my school ritual, and my night ritual. Almost everyday it is the same, with minor variations. When I do these things, I feel like I belong. I don’t skip class because I know that someone is waiting for me to be there. Someone is going to look up and realize I am not there. I like belonging and having people expect to see me, that feeling that I receive is why I cling to my rituals.
Seeing Enzo’s perspective on rituals, humans seem insane for going through the same motions day after day. Yet, what Enzo does not realize is that he is also the product of rituals. Yes, he cannot create his own destiny or rituals, but he follows each of Denny’s rituals, creating his own ritual. Every night when Denny is eating, he sits just outside of the dinning room. Different things like that show that because of human rituals the animals feed off of their movements. Maybe that is why Enzo has a negative outlook on the rituals, because he is forced to shadow them. This concept can apply to everyone. If your brother wakes up every morning before you to get in the shower, you have to wait until he is done to take your shower. However, if he did not wake up at that time your shower would be earlier. Humans can sometimes feed off of other’s rituals.
Clinging to anything is never a bad thing. Feeling passionate about a topic shows that you are persistent and would anything for that topic. Enzo is almost referring to Denny. I feel as though this was the time Enzo is trying to tell Denny to let him go and stop clinging to the things he is use to. Denny is so passionate and loves Enzo, but Enzo knows that for once in his life he has to step out of the ritual and let Enzo go.
Chrissy- “I'll admit, I cling to things because it makes me feel like I have a place in the world.” Your blog was very well thought out. I agreed with ever statement. It is a good feeling to show up at school and know people are expecting you to be there, (or anywhere for that matter). Feeling as though you belong or have a place creates this complacency in the world. I know I cling to my rituals as you do too but that is never a bad thing. I loved “on the other paw” very clever!
ReplyDeleteKristen- If it was a lot easier to deal with losing things we love, then we wouldn’t really love them. The way I see it, the people who love us just want us to be happy. They want you to pull the plug so that you do not have to suffer. In a way seeing them struggle and be in pain is worse than letting them go, which is less selfish on your part). I believe people need something to cling onto for stabilization. Hopefully you will never have to be at a point that you choose whether or not someone lives or dies, but if you do I know it’ll be the right choice.
Paola- “We feel it necessary to have the familiarity and comfort in their lives in order to be content.” I agree that rituals can add comfort to our lives, but it is not the only root to being content. Sure, it does add to some level of content, but I could never be content with my life and still go through the rituals out of the idea of being uniform. I do agree with the idea that most rituals are formed out of habit.
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ReplyDelete"People and their rituals. They cling so hard to things sometimes."
ReplyDeletePeople cling to rituals because it’s the only variable throughout their day that they can completely control. Going to school or work each day presents new obstacles and challenges, these “variables” have no controlled out come and therefore scare us. Rituals on the other hand are completely controlled so we comfortable with them. Every time I read this quote I always remember another one from the Dark Knight’s Joker,
“Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets. Hmmm? You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan." But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds!”
I really believe this quote speaks a lot about rituals or the “plan” that people have in their everyday lives. Rituals are the same way, as soon as we step out of our comfort zone that’s when things go wrong.
Kristie- Well I don’t think your being narrow minded at all, rituals and routines are not all bad, they provide serenity in a world that seems so crazy. No matter how your day is going you can always look forward to that ritual or routine in your life to provide much needed comfort and peace.
Sarah C- I love how you incorporated softball routines into your blog post, I never really thought about it before but golf for me provides a lot of rituals. I always approach the tee box in the same manner and after a practice swing always move my club in a particular manner. It helps me concentrate on the unpredictable, how I am about to hit the ball for example. Thanks for the sports insight! I never really though about it that way before.
Roo- I liked your post because you go right to the point and didn’t delve into too much detail. I completely agree that we as humans “never fear what we know”. Everyday we encounter the same rituals over and over and therefore we have become accustomed to their nature, but as soon as we step out of our comfort zone we turn into completely different people.