It's a strange, convoluted book with a number of sub-plots which each have their own distinct story, intertwined into past and present histories of the narrator, his family and the school at which he teaches. The book plays itself out in the onslaught and aftermath of a nervous breakdown whilst the writer attempts to unravel the mysteries of quality and how mankind attempts to reconcile it's own creative nature with the demands of an increasingly technological world.
Life is filled with tensions, in the most part primarily those between existence and fulfilment. First and foremost we need to find ways to keep ourselves alive, sheltered and as healthy as possible. Directly on the heels of this though there are the incessant creative urges of people themselves to make life more interesting and beautiful, to express themselves in whatever ways they can and make their world a more liveable and more enjoyable place.
The sad thing is that we are part of a social system in which individuality and creativity seems to suppressed as much as possible, where art and metaphysical value is looked down upon and implicitly discouraged, where we are expected to become part of a production process which benefits others and ourselves only tangentially. We are expected to work enthusiastically to produce services and products which often hardly interest us and which are foisted on a public who were originally oblivious of their "needs" beforehand, our efforts ultimately serving only to create disposable items to generate revenue and market share for those who control business.
Even sadder is that few people really seem to realise what's going on. One thing Pirsig writes, which continually comes back to mind, is that an inability to see takes on several forms. Something can be so small, so undiscernable that it escapes our attention at the best of times. Others, though, can be so large, so pervasive and so self-explanatory that they cannot be seen because they are just there as part of the social fabric or of the developed personal psyche. We move on from day to day, with a vague sense of things not being quite right but not being able to pinpoint what it is that is bothering us. We have jobs which supply income so we can continue to live, but which often leave us with a little discontented afterwards. Often with a feeling of "I could do much better than this. But how?". And so we get stuck again, unable to move, feeling challenged and lightly frustrated because we just can't see what's going on.
Learning to see, daring to question, being able to identify issues nobody talks about is to my mind the most basic element of human freedoms. To develop the mind to become aware of the power plays in society is of utmost importance if we wish not to be treated as election fodder for those who would govern us on behalf of business interests. Sharpen your wits to point out the blatant inequalities and excesses which take place daily, discuss them en bring those responsible to account, use your creativity to develop your imagination and furnish your world with colour and contentment. It's only then we can say that we're leading full lives and participating effectively in a society which caters to the needs of all.
A USA based view, although reasonably applicable throughout most of the world nowadays.
This video contains strong language...
We all need values in life, the one thing we should value most is ourselves and our own happiness as part of a communal effort, not squandering our right to be fully present in the world for the thirty pieces of silver we earn every month and selling our souls to the highest bidder. Your life is much more precious than that dictated to you by outside interests, it's up to you to make your voice heard.
Good luck, take care and keep well...
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