The ideas concerning the big idea of relationships serving many purposes began to make more sense this week. After finishing Steinbeck's novella, Of Mice and Men, we realized that Candy and his old dog, Lennie and George, and Curley and his wife seemed to be parallel sets of characters. Although their relationships were very different they were forever locked side-by-side with each other.
Candy was old as well as disabled -- having lost his hand in a farming accident -- just like his dog, but they still needed each other to feel as though they had some value in this life. Lennie and George seemed to be the opposite type of people both intellectually and physically, but relied upon one another to survive in a real symbiotic relationship. Curley and his wife were in a symbiotic relationship too, but it was more parasitic than commensurable.
We read a biology article titled, "Living in Sym" and this piece helped me to pull together the relationships formed in the novella. It was easier to see how people needed, to various degrees, each other to survive. Many times it seems that I don't consider the relationships beyond a surface level, but this past week helped be to not only think about the relationships of those in a fictitious situation, but also the relationships in my life and the role that I play in those relationships. I would much rather be in a commensurable relationship by helping those around me, but relationships are tricky and unpredictable. Sometimes, even when my desire to be helpful is strong, my actions can hurt relationships instead of strengthen them.
Candy was old as well as disabled -- having lost his hand in a farming accident -- just like his dog, but they still needed each other to feel as though they had some value in this life. Lennie and George seemed to be the opposite type of people both intellectually and physically, but relied upon one another to survive in a real symbiotic relationship. Curley and his wife were in a symbiotic relationship too, but it was more parasitic than commensurable.
We read a biology article titled, "Living in Sym" and this piece helped me to pull together the relationships formed in the novella. It was easier to see how people needed, to various degrees, each other to survive. Many times it seems that I don't consider the relationships beyond a surface level, but this past week helped be to not only think about the relationships of those in a fictitious situation, but also the relationships in my life and the role that I play in those relationships. I would much rather be in a commensurable relationship by helping those around me, but relationships are tricky and unpredictable. Sometimes, even when my desire to be helpful is strong, my actions can hurt relationships instead of strengthen them.