(Edit: Thanks to Micaiah Chang for the links and suggestion.) Does anyone here speak Japanese? If so, or even if not, I’d like to discuss the morals and themes of the story, 「走れメロス」(Hashire Merosu). If you have read it, but your memory is a bit fuzzy, here’s a rough summary:
Here’s the wikipedia page, and the full story in Japanese. (Note that the English translation omits the themes of Merosu’s promise to his friend, so whether he perseveres because he values the trust his friend has in Merosu’s word, for the sake of his friend, or simply because he knows his friend believes in him, is never made clear. I should also note I’ve read the abridged version, and am in the process of reading the unabridged version.)
My main issue with understanding this stems from the point at which Merosu gives up. He thinks, “Know I tried my best....” before passing out, hoping his friend will forgive him (even though, when he thinks this, he assumes he just caused his friend’s execution). Then, upon saving his friend, Merosu shares how he once gave up, and his friend shares how he once stopped believing in Merosu—and they forgive each other. The story doesn’t again address Merosu’s defeated thought of ‘at least I tried’, other than when his friend forgives him in the end.
I can’t quite grasp just what the morals or main themes of the story are because of this one unresolved issue. Is it stating that as long as you do everything you can, it’s alright, regardless of whether you succeed? Or is Merosu only forgiven in the end because he actually does show up and thereby save his friend?
My current thinking on this: ・Because Merosu does indeed arrive in time to save his friend, it doesn’t matter what else happened (please keep in mind I’m only currently interested in what the story’s actually expressing as well as what it’s attempting to express, if they happen to be separate things). ・Promises are important, and as long as you do whatever you can to honor them, it’s fine if in the end you can’t. ・Belief in others is a beautiful thing; as long as someone believes in you, you should forgive whatever else they may have thought previously. ・We’re all human, and imperfect, so you should forgive repentant ones’ trespasses.
(I figured this to be a bit of an esoteric discussion; I hope I picked the right place to post it.)
(Edit: Thanks to Micaiah Chang for the links and suggestion.)
Does anyone here speak Japanese? If so, or even if not, I’d like to discuss the morals and themes of the story, 「走れメロス」(Hashire Merosu). If you have read it, but your memory is a bit fuzzy, here’s a rough summary:
Here’s the wikipedia page, and the full story in Japanese. (Note that the English translation omits the themes of Merosu’s promise to his friend, so whether he perseveres because he values the trust his friend has in Merosu’s word, for the sake of his friend, or simply because he knows his friend believes in him, is never made clear. I should also note I’ve read the abridged version, and am in the process of reading the unabridged version.)
My main issue with understanding this stems from the point at which Merosu gives up. He thinks, “Know I tried my best....” before passing out, hoping his friend will forgive him (even though, when he thinks this, he assumes he just caused his friend’s execution). Then, upon saving his friend, Merosu shares how he once gave up, and his friend shares how he once stopped believing in Merosu—and they forgive each other. The story doesn’t again address Merosu’s defeated thought of ‘at least I tried’, other than when his friend forgives him in the end.
I can’t quite grasp just what the morals or main themes of the story are because of this one unresolved issue. Is it stating that as long as you do everything you can, it’s alright, regardless of whether you succeed? Or is Merosu only forgiven in the end because he actually does show up and thereby save his friend?
My current thinking on this:
・Because Merosu does indeed arrive in time to save his friend, it doesn’t matter what else happened (please keep in mind I’m only currently interested in what the story’s actually expressing as well as what it’s attempting to express, if they happen to be separate things).
・Promises are important, and as long as you do whatever you can to honor them, it’s fine if in the end you can’t.
・Belief in others is a beautiful thing; as long as someone believes in you, you should forgive whatever else they may have thought previously.
・We’re all human, and imperfect, so you should forgive repentant ones’ trespasses.
(I figured this to be a bit of an esoteric discussion; I hope I picked the right place to post it.)