Decisions, Decisions (Problematize)

The most challenging part about The Road up until this point in the book is the ethical issues between the father and the son. We see this beautiful relationship develop between the two that can be viewed from a biblical standpoint; the father’s love for his son is undeniable and something completely and totally beautiful. Despite the unbreakable bond the two have, ethical issues still arise throughout the book. Every time they stumble across a person who is reaching out for help, the father demands the son to keep moving despite the desire to stop and help. The best example in the book is when the father and son find an old man traveling down the same road on page 161. When they approach him the son does his pleading routine in hopes that the father will stop and help just this one time and to the readers’ surprise, the father finally gives in. It always seems to boil down to “run and survive” or “stay to help and potentially get caught.” Are they supposed to give up their chance to live for someone else’s sake? In a world that is already broken and destroyed, is it ethical to walk away from a situation where another person is crying out for help? This text is a huge challenge to the way we live our lives today; what extremes would we go to in a post-apocalyptic society? Not only do we have to consider servant leadership, we also have to consider situations beyond the typical daily challenges. The text explores the idea of cannibalism, suicide, and selfishness evolving in this so called “new beginning.” The Road goes beyond the idea of questionable circumstances and reaches a whole new level of ethical issues that we must evaluate in our faith especially while we are at Southeastern.

Situation: We are stuck in a post-apocalyptic world, the food is already scarce and we are starving. Do you take on the role of the “good guy” or the “bad guy?” In this moment, everyone would most likely answer “I would never eat a person!” or “I have a tight grip on my ethical stance, I know I would fall under the category of “good guy” just like the father and son.” But suddenly the world changes and you cannot find food to save your life, you are becoming so sick you can barely make it through the day, and you can no longer trust anyone. Which morals are easily thrown out the window? How many people would actually stay strong through it all? We say that suicide is wrong, but we are going to die anyway. We say that cannibalism is appalling, but is impossible to survive without food. I would bet that less than 50% of people in our class would decide to persevere when this unimaginable world is brought to life and everything we’ve ever known is completely flipped upside down.  Where do you stand?

Death of a Salesman and The American Dream (Problematize)

The American Dream is essentially defined as an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives. It is an opportunity for all people to feel important regardless of social status, race, ethnicity, etc. It is rooted in the idea that "all men are created equal" as stated by the Declaration of Independence. This idea of the American Dream has evolved over time, but ultimately began before our parents were born. Although it hit popularity during the 19th and 20th century, the concept of the American Dream still somewhat exists today.

In Arthur Miller’s The Death of a Salesman, he depicts a perfect portrayal of a man’s continuous hope that he will ultimately achieve this idea. Willy Loman is a man of older age with two sons named Biff and Happy. Willy has spent his whole life putting Biff on a pedestal believing that one day Biff will be a great man, he will not only be liked but he will be "well-liked." Throughout the story Willy is trapped by memories of the past and cannot overcome them even up to his death. Despite Biff’s assurance that he will never be as great as his father hopes, Willy enforce the idea of the American Dream onto Biff’s average life.

Willy Loman is also a man who highly values money. It is important for him as man of the house to provide for his family even when he cannot. When Willy’s attention is not focused on Biff, he realizes the lack of success and fortune that he had in his own life. Willy tried so hard his whole life to be wealthy; he was never at home with his family, he always tried to live the life of a salesman. Not only did Willy die a poor man, he died an unhappy man. At the end of the book only four people attended his funeral: Biff, Happy, Linda, and Charley. Willy Loman could not impact those around him; he could not help others because he could not help himself.

This concept of the American Dream can easily be applied to religion because there is such a strong emphasis on money in the story. 1 Timothy 6:10 gives a warning against the use of money saying, ^“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” We see this passage lived out in Willy Loman’s life as he is continuously overcome with disappointment, frustration, and anger when he realizes that his life is meaningless.

How does this apply to us today? We may not directly focus on the idea of the American Dream but it still exists among us. It would be easy to assume that it is in fact more dangerous to us today than it was during Willy Loman’s time. The cost of living is so high that the emphasis is put back on money and the importance of it in our lives. Money is such a necessity in our lives today that it is almost idolized; we spend more time making money than we do focusing on our faith. Christians and non-Christians are both guilty of this desire to be successful. The difference is, in our God, anything is possible. We can fight the battle against the American Dream...and win.