Mrs. Frith suggests that God
blesses the traveling women and children through Joe’s sacrifice (p. 111). The
suggestion eventually buoys and strengthens the women. Why does it have this
effect? Jean doesn’t believe this herself, but she does not discourage others
from believing. Why?
I think that the women are strengthened by Joe’s sacrifice because they choose to be. They could have wallowed in grief and blame but they decided to be grateful for what Joe had done for them and the sacrifice he had made for them. Their lives were spared because he gave his (for all they knew) and they were going to live their lives now with renewed hope and gratitude. Of course there’s obvious parallels to the sacrifice our Savior made for us. Joe suffered and sacrificed so they could live. The Savior suffered for our sins and sacrificed His life so we can live eternally.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Jean doesn’t believe that Joe was divine she respects the women’s beliefs – just like she respects the beliefs of everyone she encounters. She sees it helps them. But for the other women Joe becomes an idol, a distant god to be worshipped. Jean’s “grief for him was more real and far deeper than that of the other women, and it was not in the least because she thought that he had been divine. She was entirely certain in her own mind that he wasn’t.” Joe was very much real to Jean, which makes the loss so much more painful.
Excellent response. I teared up a little at the last line!
ReplyDeleteWell, said Kelly. I saw the relationship between Jean and Joe as you have discribed, but with this thought. I think we all have instances in our lives when we interact with someone where we feel something special, different and unique. It doesn't necessarily have to be between people of the opposite sex. When it does happen, between a single couple as I suggest it has between Jean and Joe, Shute uses this phenomena as the seed for their relationship.
ReplyDelete