Saturday, September 8, 2018

A Message to Garcia, my interpretation

I just finished reading a snippet from Elbert Hubbard's book/essay A Message to Garcia. I've been asked by my Human Geo teacher to give my interpretation of the little snippet I have read. From what I can tell after reading this piece is that the author dreads for more people like Rowan in the world. No questions asked, they know how, and they get the job done, right. The author tells of the story of Rowan and his message to Garcia, he states how Rowan did not need help, he simply accepted his job, went out, and came out successful. The author talks about how General Garcia had died but there would always be another Garcia in the world. This to me means that there will always be someone on the other end of a job that either receives what he needs when he needs it or whenever the sender thinks he needs to finish the job. Then the author puts us, the reader, into a situation to test the matter. He puts us into an office, our office, with six clerks. We request one of the clerks to  “Please look in the encyclopedia and make a brief memorandum for me concerning the life of Corregio.” But the author gives us a dilemma. Will the clerk simply say "Yes, sir," and get to work? Or will he ask anywhere from a variety of questions. If we answer his many questions will the clerk even do his job? Will he ask us why we need it or how to do it? Will he get the other clerks to help him in order to obtain the information we want so badly? Will he return to us empty handed saying no man of said name exist? Would it have just been better to say never mind and do it ourselves? This is where the author introduces an idea that is and has been heavily disputed for as long as it's conception. The author states, "And this incapacity for independent action, this moral stupidity, this infirmity of the will, this unwillingness to cheerfully catch hold and lift, are the things that put pure socialism so far into the future. If men will not act for themselves, what will they do when the benefit of their effort is for all?" The author references that if we continue on like this we will keep putting pure socialism further into the future. This changes what he meant earlier of a man like Rowan. Instead of more people needing to be like Rowan, everyone should be like Rowan. A honest person who asks no questions, just gets their job done, nothing else. The author may be explaining how we can reach pure socialism and possibly pure communism. The author continues on, telling about other people in their jobs, can they complete the job they are assigned on their own free will? Will the person I assign, who may be a fine worker, on his way back stop at pubs instead of putting the important first and getting his job done? Will the man even finish his job? This is what is holding us back, the inability to do something independently. This is where the author continues on, on about the men who can't do their jobs themselves. They must have some help for some reason.  This is where the snippet ends, with the author explaining that the world needs, needs badly someone like Rowan. A man who can get the job done, without any idiotic questions or help from a outside source. One who takes that letter to Garcia without refusal or question. Without throwing the letter away and lying to the "boss". Someone who works while the "boss" is away or while he is home. Someone who never gets laid off or goes on strike for higher wages. For a man as such is so rare that an employer cannot let him go. There may be fine others but they can't get their job done right like such a man, so they must be let go. Civilization longs for a man as such and it is due time that civilization gets more men like this. He is needed everywhere in society, every country, every state, every city, every town, every village - in shops, offices, and factories. The world needs men like this and thus the world cries out for such a man, a man who is needed badly, a man who can, carry a message to Garcia. For the world will be a greater and brighter place with such these men. For they get their job done, no questions asked.

1 comment:

  1. Wow, this is a highly detailed response! Nice work, definitely worth 10 out of 10 points.

    The posting on your first day at JC was also well done. I'm giving you your grade here (20/20) because of the weird formatting problem.

    Off to a great start, Patrick.

    ReplyDelete