Why do you think he decides to go back? What, if anything, does this have to do with the Golden Rule (“do unto others as you would have them do unto you”)?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Chapter 37, #1: Do Unto Spies . . .
Why do you think he decides to go back? What, if anything, does this have to do with the Golden Rule (“do unto others as you would have them do unto you”)?
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I think that Campbell returns to Resi and Kraft after learning that they are spies because he has nothing to lose. As seen in chapter 40 when he is released from the unmarked room in the Empire State building, he freezes after taking fifty steps from the building. He then goes on to say it was not guilt, a ghastly scene of loss, a loathing of death, heartbroken rage, the thought that he was so unloved, or the thought that God was cruel because he taught himself to not let any of those things effect him anymore. "What froze [him] was the fact that [he] had absolutely no reason to move in any direction. What had made [him] move through so many dead and pointless years was curiosity. Now even that had flickered out." Campbell said that he wanted to go back to them, to his mistress and best friend. Although they were betraying him, they were all he had and in a short while it all was about to end. Campbell doesn't return to Jones's house because he likes adventure, he returned because there was no where for him to go, no one else to turn to, and nothing left to lose.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Virginia, Campbell had nothing to lose and despite everything Resi and Kraft were the only people in the world that meant anything to him, even if they did betray him. Campbell used the golden rule in this situation. He went back to inform them of what was coming. Even if escape wasn't an option at least they knew what was coming for them and could be as prepared as possible. I think had the situations been reversed Campbell would have appreciated the warning.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of Chapter 37, Campbell says “I knew them [Kraft and Resi] for what they were, but the fact remained that they were all I had.” Like Virginia said, Campbell returned to Jones’ cellar because he had nothing to lose. In addition, he did not have anything to gain by escaping because he simply lost the will to enjoy life. He had no purpose. I don’t think that Campbell went back to inform Kraft and Resi. Since there was no chance to escape, what was the point of warning them? Furthermore, if that were the case, he would have told them right when he walked into the basement. Instead he asked them questions about their destination and whether or not they knew who Colonel Iona Potapov was. He wanted to hear them admit to what they had done, and then he wanted to watch them go down. The Golden Rule is “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Campbell only knew what Wirtanen had just informed him; his two companions were spies who planned to allow him to be captured and shiped off to Moscow. Resi and Kraft did not keep the Goldent Rule in mind during their scheming and planning. Campbell did onto Resi and Kraft what he thought they were going to do to him.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, once Campbell found out Resi and Kraft were spies he had nothing left to look forward to in life, no reason to escape and keep living, no desires to fulfill. I do not believe he demonstrated the golden rule by returning to his friends because it was not a joyful return or necessarily hateful. If the golden rule had played a part Campbell would have returned because he wanted to share in there companionship one last time, spies or not they were his friends. Otherwise, Campbell would have taken the opportunity to leave, and left Resi and Kraft to be captured like they would have let him in Mexico. Campbell returned because there was nothing else to do, he might as well face what the world wanted to give him then live out a meager existence on the run with no friends. Dale
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