After We're Gone and East Of Eden
Updated with "Word History" January 18, 2015 from the original article of November 25, 2007 (thus the reference to uninsured Americans)
If you've never read John Steinbeck's "East Of Eden," I sure hope you will. Many people think right off of the movie from the 1950s with James Dean, but while the movie is good, it only covers about the last third or so of the book. In my opinion, far better is the television mini-series of the early 1980s, which gave a boost to up and coming actress Jane Seymour. The mini-series covered the ENTIRE book, and it is available on DVD.
The book is pretty large, like 500 to 600 pages, depending upon format, but don't be intimidated, as it is well worth reading. Tucked away in Chapter 34 are Steinbeck's real ideas about mankind. Interestingly, it is the shortest chapter in the book, covering only two to three pages, but in it, Steinbeck tells us that humans search for love and understanding from our fellow beings throughout our lives; however, we seldom, if ever, get to know the outcome of our own fortunes, because others don't truly judge us until we're gone. As he explains, once we pass on, any jealousies held by others tend to pass on too, as we're no longer a threat to anyone. That's when people's true feelings can come out.
I know I've read that studies have shown human beings do think about their own "funerals," and what people will say about them at that time and afterward. Do we want to be remembered for having "saved" the current American medical system, which has left 45-50 million without coverage? Do we want to be remembered for having run up the price of energy products to the point where many people can't heat or cool their homes properly, can't drive to their jobs without putting a strain on their pocketbooks, or can't afford the escalating price of many products because of the price increases due to soaring transport costs? Do we want to be remembered for having stood by while the very wealthiest Americans continue to siphon off the life-blood of the nation's workers? When told of our death, do we want others to feel relief instead of grief?
This picture from the cover of the 1995 Book-of-the-Month Club edition, by Viking Penguin/Penguin USA, Inc.
WORD HISTORY:
Mentor-This word "likely" goes back to the Indo European root "men," which meant "to think." The idea is, that a causative form^ of that root provided the basis for a character of the name "Mentor" in Greek mythology, who shared his knowledge with a young, inexperienced character in the story. English borrowed the word from the Greek character name in the mid 1700s with the meaning, "knowledgeable adviser." The verb form was derived from the noun.
^ A causative form simply means that it causes an action to take place. Causative forms often have a second verb; for example, "The father let his son have the car." In the case of the root "men," above, the meaning "to think" of the root "men," gave a causative form meaning "to cause someone to think." In Greek mythology, "Mentor" caused his charge "to think," and thus, "to learn," by the knowledge he, Mentor, imparted.
If you've never read John Steinbeck's "East Of Eden," I sure hope you will. Many people think right off of the movie from the 1950s with James Dean, but while the movie is good, it only covers about the last third or so of the book. In my opinion, far better is the television mini-series of the early 1980s, which gave a boost to up and coming actress Jane Seymour. The mini-series covered the ENTIRE book, and it is available on DVD.
The book is pretty large, like 500 to 600 pages, depending upon format, but don't be intimidated, as it is well worth reading. Tucked away in Chapter 34 are Steinbeck's real ideas about mankind. Interestingly, it is the shortest chapter in the book, covering only two to three pages, but in it, Steinbeck tells us that humans search for love and understanding from our fellow beings throughout our lives; however, we seldom, if ever, get to know the outcome of our own fortunes, because others don't truly judge us until we're gone. As he explains, once we pass on, any jealousies held by others tend to pass on too, as we're no longer a threat to anyone. That's when people's true feelings can come out.
I know I've read that studies have shown human beings do think about their own "funerals," and what people will say about them at that time and afterward. Do we want to be remembered for having "saved" the current American medical system, which has left 45-50 million without coverage? Do we want to be remembered for having run up the price of energy products to the point where many people can't heat or cool their homes properly, can't drive to their jobs without putting a strain on their pocketbooks, or can't afford the escalating price of many products because of the price increases due to soaring transport costs? Do we want to be remembered for having stood by while the very wealthiest Americans continue to siphon off the life-blood of the nation's workers? When told of our death, do we want others to feel relief instead of grief?
This picture from the cover of the 1995 Book-of-the-Month Club edition, by Viking Penguin/Penguin USA, Inc.
Mentor-This word "likely" goes back to the Indo European root "men," which meant "to think." The idea is, that a causative form^ of that root provided the basis for a character of the name "Mentor" in Greek mythology, who shared his knowledge with a young, inexperienced character in the story. English borrowed the word from the Greek character name in the mid 1700s with the meaning, "knowledgeable adviser." The verb form was derived from the noun.
^ A causative form simply means that it causes an action to take place. Causative forms often have a second verb; for example, "The father let his son have the car." In the case of the root "men," above, the meaning "to think" of the root "men," gave a causative form meaning "to cause someone to think." In Greek mythology, "Mentor" caused his charge "to think," and thus, "to learn," by the knowledge he, Mentor, imparted.
Labels: East Of Eden, English, etymology, Greek, John Steinbeck, literature, mankind
posted by Randy at 3:27 PM
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