"It seems as if in the process of growing up we lose the ability to wonder about the world"
In my opinion, I think Albert Knox is trying to compose the idea that when one grows up, they forget about the importance and beauty of the world, and most likely life as well. As one grows up and discovers their surroundings, they begin to be ignorant of the fact that the world is much bigger than one can imagine. Yet I ask myself... Is Albert Knox talking about childhood to adulthood? Or rather adulthood to like the elderly? Because I believe that when we are a child, or more so, when one is born, everything is new to them. Every moment is a discovery, and as a child begins to grow and learn of their surroundings, they begin to only look at the world in their perspective, which is extremely small. They learn of their surroundings, friends, family, and only things that have something to do with them. Whilst everything else that doesn't seem relevant is neglected. However, I also think that when one is an adult, growing old, growing closer to their death, they do the opposite of what Albert Knox said, As one grows old, they don't they begin to see how big the world is? How one must see the 'whole' world before they die? So they begin to wonder about the world as well? It's as though they suddenly gain the ability to wonder, because of death.
As a conclusion, I agree and disagree with Knox's statement. When we are young and ignorant, that's when we need to wonder, but as we grow into adulthood that's when we really lose the ability to wonder. My point where it disagrees to what Knox said is, when one begins to grow older and older, and realise that death is close, that's when the ability to wonder probably 'revives' again.
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3 comments:
I acquiesce. It's really all about the stages of life and how, in each stage, our lives are occupied. We may not have the time to think during adulthood, whereas once we retire, we are left with nothing but our memories and the past to dwell upon, thus we again "think", and thought leads to wonder. As an adult, all we see is what tomorrow will bring, working towards the future. When we can no longer go fowards, we look back.
I agree with Helen. Knox is asking about "the process of growing up" --as in our adolescent and adult years---years when we "grow" [not] when we're dying. During these adult years when we become occupied with our own lives, do we lose the ability to wonder? Perhaps we're too busy to stop and wander because we're chasing our personal aspirations? You talk of the later stage of life, when we've all slowed down. When, as Helen says, "we are left with nothing but our memories and past to dwell upon" because [of course] we only begin wondering again when we've slowed down... only nearing the end do we start to question our existence. ---But this is [not] what Knox is asking.
I sort of agree with you, that it does seem to be the stages of life that matters to whether we wonder or not. However, as a child, we can't question because we're not able to, and everything we see, we believe is true. Therefore, as we grow up, we wouldn't be questioning because as a child, we've "seen everything", thinking that what we know is really what it is and not questioning further to find the answer.
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