oneness

My event for this week was called “Staking Out the City – St. Ignatius and the Jesuit Strategy.” A man named Father Thomas Lucas spoke about the Jesuit tradition. He began in Spain around the year 1491, which is where and when Ignatius was born. He talked of this man’s life, and the spiritual journey that would lead Ignatius to Rome (and ultimately to the Jesuit religion). Father Thomas Lucas told the audience how determined Ignatius was to serve God and to serve him right. It was then that he was inspired by the simplicity and humility of what would become the Jesuit tradition. In 1540, the first “sketches” of the Jesuits were approved by the Pope. This is where the Jesuits began their “Jesuit strategy.” They would place themselves (housing, church) right in the middle of the city, so that they could be in the center of the people. The Jesuits wanted to be “one” with the people, and help them as much as they could. In fact, in 1544, the Jesuits opened up a Halfway House to allow children of prostitutes to learn a trade so they would not turn out like their mothers.
The Jesuits asked themselves and the people around them where the biggest need was and where they could reach out and be the most powerful. The Jesuits targeted great cities/nations to help as many people as possible, and reach out to many as possible. Nevertheless, the Jesuits always put themselves right in the middle of the city. Being interconnected with the people not only by mind but by location was vital for the Jesuits. They wanted to feel oneness with the city, but also with the city’s people. I never thought that location would be such a significant part of conveying the Jesuits message. Now looking at it, the plan of the Jesuits was a very clever one. I would have never thought of it, but to be placed in the heart of the city is an ideal place to be when wanting to be with the people, and to become “one” with them.
This feeling of oneness is the theme that lies within the three works for this weeks blog: “I Sing the Body Electric” and “One’s-Self I Sing” by Walt Whitman, and “Lush Life” by John McCluskey. In both of Whitman’s works, there is a sense of the body being described as being one with the soul. It is also interpreted that it is the body that makes connections with people. Moreover, it seems that if there is no connection between the body and the soul, this human or form is worthless. Also, in both these poems there seems to be an oneness or equality between man and women. Moreover, “Lush Life” expresses an interconnection between the soul/body and music. Music seems to bring out the passion in the characters, but also make them come together or relate to one another.
“I Sing the Body Electric” is a very unique poem that expresses the oneness of people, the body, and the soul. Whitman makes it evident that he wants to include almost every person when states, “Man’s, woman’s, child’s youth’s, wife’s, husband’s, mother’s, father’s, young man’s, young woman’s poems (4).” Whitman wants everyone the be able to relate to this poem. Then, Whitman goes on to describe the body in full detail and makes it seem as though the body can make a connection between people (man and woman). Whitman writes, “All attitudes, all the shapeliness, all the belongings of my or your body or of any one’s body, male or female(19).” Even though man and women’s bodies are very different, Whitman writes that he wants them to be “one;” he almost wants equality. Furthermore, this can be paralleled to Father Lucas stating that the Jesuits put themselves out there, and attempt to make a connection with people. Instead of the body making a connection between people, the Jesuits wanted their location and thoughts to connect them to people.
“One’s-Self I Sing” seems to also have this common theme of connecting one’s-self or the body to both man and woman. Whitman begins by referring to himself as a “simple separate person.” Then he sings from “top to toe,” referring from up and down his body – his soul. However, Whitman then implicates that his body or life is only complete or worth with man and women both. He writes, “Form complete is worthier far/The female equally with the Male I sing.” Here, Whitman also expresses the equality between man and woman. Moreover, “One’s-Self I Sing” also relates to Father Lucas’ talk on the Jesuit Strategy. Both the Jesuits and Whitman seem to make a connection to the people of the world – just in different ways. Whitman here deliberates the connection by the body, where the Jesuits made the connection through their location in cities. Both expresses oneness with the people or universe around them.
“One’s-Self I Sing” is very much like “I Sing the Body Electric.” Both seem to connect the body to life, and to the likeness of having both man and women around. Life does not seem to be complete without both sexes. However, this seems rare for this time period. Whitman wrote both of these poems in the 1800’s, and there was no notion of equality between man and woman at the time. Both these poems actually come across somewhat shocking to me.
“Lush Life” by John McCluskey also expresses the connection between the body and people. However, it is a different part of the body: the mind. McCluskey adds another component into this story – music which is attempted to be created through a thought process. All throughout this short story, the two main characters, Earl and Billy, attempt to compose music in their heads. Music is what allows them to connect to their souls, in part because it is what they love to do. Funnily enough, Earl and Billy both look deep into their minds and imagine certain women as they are thinking of tunes – they see images. McCluskey writes, “One of the band’s more popular numbers…was the results of Billy’s meditations on the richly perfumed arms of a large and fleshy woman…(565).” Moreover, the reader can tell that the music really shows Earl and Billy who they are. They are dedicated, driving through the night without any sleep just to get to their band the next day. This is their passion. Their music shows who they truly are, but also connects Earl and Billy together. The music aspect of this story is what parallels the Jesuit’s location component. Both put people and their minds “in tune.”
All three of these works – “I Sing the Body Electric,” “One’s-self I Sing” and “Lush Life” all show how the body and mind connect people together. “I Sing the Body Electric” shows how the body brings both man and women together. They share equality in this world, and human bodies make them one. In “One’s-Self I Sing,” individuality is introduced being a “separate person,” but humanity is only complete with females and males being equal. “Lush Life” expresses the connection between people through music. Music and images being created in the character’s head are what show these people who they really are – it represents their soul and passion. Father Lucas’ point was that the Jesuits strategically placed themselves in the city so that they could show people what their passion was – Jesus Christ. The Jesuits placed themselves directly in the middle of the city so that people would notice them, and so they could give out the most help possible.