the fiction of merton

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7/27/2019 The Fiction of Merton http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-fiction-of-merton 1/5  7 R`i Ofetfcj co Mirtcj F gm krgtioud tc R`cmgs Mirtcj ocr wrftfjk. Ocr wrftfjk `fs dfoi. R`i pirscj w`c imirkis t`rcuk` tixt fs t`i cjdy Mirtcj F `gvi ajcwj. @i fs t`iriocri fj scmi sijsi g ofetfcjgd” Mirtcj1 hut jct fj t`i sijsi co ujrigd cr ujtrui. @i fs, rgt`ir, g dftirgry prisijei w`c hiegmi gj ceegsfcjgd ecmpgjfcj fj t`i husfjiss co tryfjk tc dfvi widd. Ocrty yigrs gotir `fs bigt`, wi `gvi gj ghujbgjei co mimijtcis co Mirtcj‖s dfoi> gubfc gjb vfbic riecrbfjks, p`ctckrgp`s (co `fm cr hy `fm), egddfkrgp`fis gjb saite`is w`fe`, gdcjk wft` stcrfis orcm `fs orfijbs, gdd oiib t`i fmgkfjgtfcj wft` fmprissfcjs co t`i Mirtcj wi rigb. Hut `i hiegmi sfkjfofegjt tc mgjy co us sfmpdy hiegusi `i wrcti `fs dfoi. Iviry —tiddfjk” co mysido fs g ritiddfjk, gjb t`i get co tiddfjk e`gjkis w`gt egj hi tcdb jixt tfmi,  hiegusi ft fs priefsidy, gj get , wft` ecjsiquijeis, dfai ct`ir gets, fj t`i wcrdb gjb spiie` co ct`irs. R`i sido dfvis gjb mcvis fj, cjdy fj, gets co tiddfjk ―  fj t`i tfmi tgaij tc sit cut gjb grtfeudgti g mimcry, t`i tfmi t`gt fs g afjb co riprisijtgtfcj (gdwgys pgrtfgd, gdwgys saiwib) co t`i tfmi my mgtirfgd gjb mijtgd dfoi `gs tgaij, t`i tfmi t`gt `gs hrcuk`t mi `iri. Rc stip gsfbi orcm t`fs afjb co tiddfjk gjb ritiddfjk, t`fs gdwgys s`fotfjk gjb krcwfjk riprisijtgtfcj co t`i pgst, fs fj iooiet tc ghgjbcj t`fjafjk ftsido cr dgjkugki ftsido. 7  R`i mgjjir fj w`fe` Mirtcj wrcti `fs dfoi cr —tcdb” `fmsido,  gjb t`i wgy fj w`fe` `i krgppdib wft` t`i gmhfkuftfis co hiecmfjk t`irihy g puhdfe prisijei, mgy hi gmcjkst `fs mcst sfkjfofegjt kfots tc t`fs prisijt gki fj w`fe` gppigrgjei gjb fmprissfcj scmitfmis siim tc mgttir mcri t`gj dfoi ftsido. R`i segdi co t`fs prisijt chsissfcj mgy yit prcvi tc hi cur ujbcfjk, t`cuk` t`i prchdim ftsido fs jct g jiw cji. F t`fja iviryhcby fj t`i wcrdb wgjts picpdi tc rigb `fs gutchfckrgp`y cr `fs dittirs cr `fs bfgrfis cr `fs stgti pgpirs cr ivij `fs geecujt hccas. Iviryw`iri F dcca picpdi gri oudd co t`ifr gutchfckrgp`fis cr t`ifr cwj ecddietib jctis cr scmit`fjk co t`i scrt…. t`i mibfum t`i w`cdi gki siias ixprissfcj t`rcuk` mcst rigbfdy fs gutchfckrgp`y…. 8  Mirtcj wrcti gutchfckrgp`y. Fjbiib, `i kgfjib eidihrfty hy bcfjk nust t`gt. Hut Mirtcj wijt hiycjb gutchfckrgp`y fjtc gutchfckrgp`fegd t`icdcky> @i bfbj‖t nust wrfti ghcut  `fs dfoi gs t`cuk` t`i wrftfjk wiri miridy g riecrb co ivijts gjb t`cuk`ts w`fe` `gppijib scmi tfmi privfcusdy. @i wrcti `fs dfoi. [rftfjk wgs gdsc dfvfjk. Mirtcj‖s wrftfjk stydis vgry krigtdy cvir t`i yigrs, gjb wrftfjk ivfbijtdy oujetfcjib fj mgjy bfooirijt wgys ocr `fm gs ocr ct`irs. Ghcvi gdd, `cwivir, t`i trgnietcry co Mirtcj‖s vcegtfcj fs fj t`i ecjtfjucus (fo ceegsfcjgddy ogdtirfjk gjb scmitfmis ripitftfvi) dftirgry mcvimijt tcwgrbs g mcri priefsi gjb vfvfb ixprissfcj co t`i ixpirfijei co hifjk `umgj gjb E`rfstfgj gt t`i ecjvirkijei co pgrtfeudgr strigms co mfb- twijtfit` eijtury rigdftfis. \ir`gps t`fs fs w`gt t`i ibftcrs co R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj migj w`ij t`iy sgy t`gt —[rftfjk wgs t`i ridfkfcj t`gt hcujb Mirtcj cvir tc `fs Kcb. @i wcudb kfvi hfrt` tc Kcb fj `fms ido hy wrftfjk ghcut `fs jiib ocr Kcb tc hi hcrj fj `fm.” 5  [rftirs ct`ir t`gj Mirtcj mgy prcbuei mcri pctijt cr duefb prcsi ―  cr hittir pcitry ―  yit mgjgki tc rivigd dfttdi co t`i dfoi cut co w`fe` t`i wrftfjks imirki. Ct`ir ridfkfcus mgy kdcw mcri hrfk`tdy fj t`i eruefhdi co Kcb‖s egddfjk, gjb Kcb gdcji mgy ajcw co ft. Hut t`i wgy fj w`fe` Mirtcj dfvib hy wrftfjk, digvfjk g afjb co pgpir trgfd fj `fs wgai, hrfjks `fs dfoi fjtc ridgtfcjs`fp wft` cur cwj. @fs gets co tiddfjk gjb ri-tiddfjk, tixt tc iyi rgt`ir t`gj vcfei tc igr, ecjtfjui tc `gvi ecjsiquijeis. Ocr rigbirs w`c oiid g sijsi co riscjgjei wft` Mirtcj, t`i ixpirfijei egj hi scmit`fjk gafj tc gj getugd ridgtfcjs`fp, gjb wi `gvi mgy spiga co —ajcwfjk Mirtcj.” Vit `i wgs gdsc g —pirscj w`c jchcby ajcws,” gs Xcwgj [fddfgms biserfhib `fm fj g pgrgbcxfegd trfhuti priefsidy t`frty yigrs gkc> Rrut` egj cjdy hi spcaij hy g mgj jchcby ajcws, hiegusi cjdy fj t`i ujajcwj pirscj fs t`iri jc chstruetfcj tc rigdfty1 t`i ikc co sido-crfijtib bisfri gjb mgjfocdb qugdftfis, siiafjk tc bcmfjgti gjb crkgjfzi t`i wcrdb, fs ghsijt. R`iri fs jc-cji t`iri tc ajcw1 hut w`gt fs t`iri tc ajcw fs t`i ocrm, t`i ecjofkurgtfcj co g wfbir rigdfty gs ixprissib fj cji pdgei, cji stcry. Ft wfdd jct hi t`i stcry co gj fjtiristfjk gjb crfkfjgd pirscjgdfty, hut t`i stcry co cji sirfis co rispcjsis tc gjb riodietfcjs co t`i eurrijts gjb strueturis co t`i wcrdb. 2  Rc sgy t`iri fs —jc-cji t`iri tc ajcw” fs jct tc quistfcj t`i rigdfty co R`cmgs Mirtcj, cr t`i fjtikrfty gjb gut`ijtfefty co `fs tistfmcjy. R`gt wcudb hi ghsurb> @fs orfijbs, hrct`ir mcjas gjb mgjy ct`irs w`c ajiw t`i mgj ecjtfjui tc krcujb `fs wrfttij dikgey fj t`i pirscj t`iy `gvi ajcwj gjb dcvib. R`i ujajcwj Mirtcj, t`i ofetfcjgd Mirtcj, gdsc ecjtfjuis tc spiga orcm `fs ixpirfijei fjtc cur cwj, fj bfsgrmfjkdy ogmfdfgr gjb ijkgkfjk wgys. @i ecjtfjuis tc ijkgki us gs t`cuk` g oiddcw pfdkrfm. @fs wcrbs bc ivcai t`i pirscj, hut t`i

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Page 1: The Fiction of Merton

7/27/2019 The Fiction of Merton

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-fiction-of-merton 1/5

 

7

R`i Ofetfcj co Mirtcj

F gm krgtioud tc R`cmgs Mirtcj ocr wrftfjk. Ocr wrftfjk `fs dfoi. R`i pirscj w`c imirkis t`rcuk` tixt fs t`i

cjdy Mirtcj F `gvi ajcwj. @i fs t`iriocri fj scmi sijsi g —ofetfcjgd” Mirtcj1 hut jct fj t`i sijsi co ujrigd cr

ujtrui. @i fs, rgt`ir, g dftirgry prisijei w`c hiegmi gj ceegsfcjgd ecmpgjfcj fj t`i husfjiss co tryfjk tc dfvi

widd. Ocrty yigrs gotir `fs bigt`, wi `gvi gj ghujbgjei co mimijtcis co Mirtcj‖s dfoi> gubfc gjb vfbicriecrbfjks, p`ctckrgp`s (co `fm cr hy `fm), egddfkrgp`fis gjb saite`is w`fe`, gdcjk wft` stcrfis orcm `fs

orfijbs, gdd oiib t`i fmgkfjgtfcj wft` fmprissfcjs co t`i Mirtcj wi rigb. Hut `i hiegmi sfkjfofegjt tc mgjy co

us sfmpdy hiegusi `i wrcti `fs dfoi.

Iviry —tiddfjk” co mysido fs g ritiddfjk, gjb t`i get co tiddfjk e`gjkis w`gt egj hi tcdb jixt tfmi,

 hiegusi ft fs priefsidy, gj get , wft` ecjsiquijeis, dfai ct`ir gets, fj t`i wcrdb gjb spiie` co ct`irs.

R`i sido dfvis gjb mcvis fj, cjdy fj, gets co tiddfjk ―  fj t`i tfmi tgaij tc sit cut gjb grtfeudgti g

mimcry, t`i tfmi t`gt fs g afjb co riprisijtgtfcj (gdwgys pgrtfgd, gdwgys saiwib) co t`i tfmi my

mgtirfgd gjb mijtgd dfoi `gs tgaij, t`i tfmi t`gt `gs hrcuk`t mi `iri. Rc stip gsfbi orcm t`fs afjb co

tiddfjk gjb ritiddfjk, t`fs gdwgys s`fotfjk gjb krcwfjk riprisijtgtfcj co t`i pgst, fs fj iooiet tc ghgjbcj

t`fjafjk ftsido cr dgjkugki ftsido.7 

R`i mgjjir fj w`fe` Mirtcj wrcti `fs dfoi cr —tcdb” `fmsido,  gjb t`i wgy fj w`fe` `i krgppdib wft` t`i

gmhfkuftfis co hiecmfjk t`irihy g puhdfe prisijei, mgy hi gmcjkst `fs mcst sfkjfofegjt kfots tc t`fs prisijt gki

fj w`fe` gppigrgjei gjb fmprissfcj scmitfmis siim tc mgttir mcri t`gj dfoi ftsido. R`i segdi co t`fs prisijt

chsissfcj mgy yit prcvi tc hi cur ujbcfjk, t`cuk` t`i prchdim ftsido fs jct g jiw cji.

F t`fja iviryhcby fj t`i wcrdb wgjts picpdi tc rigb `fs gutchfckrgp`y cr `fs dittirs cr `fs bfgrfis cr `fs

stgti pgpirs cr ivij `fs geecujt hccas.

Iviryw`iri F dcca picpdi gri oudd co t`ifr gutchfckrgp`fis cr t`ifr cwj ecddietib jctis cr scmit`fjk co

t`i scrt…. t`i mibfum t`i w`cdi gki siias ixprissfcj t`rcuk` mcst rigbfdy fs gutchfckrgp`y….8 

Mirtcj wrcti gutchfckrgp`y. Fjbiib, `i kgfjib eidihrfty hy bcfjk nust t`gt. Hut Mirtcj wijt hiycjb

gutchfckrgp`y fjtc gutchfckrgp`fegd t`icdcky> @i bfbj‖t nust wrfti ghcut  `fs dfoi gs t`cuk` t`i wrftfjk wiri

miridy g riecrb co ivijts gjb t`cuk`ts w`fe` `gppijib scmi tfmi privfcusdy. @i wrcti `fs dfoi. [rftfjk wgs

gdsc dfvfjk. Mirtcj‖s wrftfjk stydis vgry krigtdy cvir t`i yigrs, gjb wrftfjk ivfbijtdy oujetfcjib fj mgjybfooirijt wgys ocr `fm gs ocr ct`irs. Ghcvi gdd, `cwivir, t`i trgnietcry co Mirtcj‖s vcegtfcj fs fj t`i ecjtfjucus(fo ceegsfcjgddy ogdtirfjk gjb scmitfmis ripitftfvi) dftirgry mcvimijt tcwgrbs g mcri priefsi gjb vfvfb

ixprissfcj co t`i ixpirfijei co hifjk `umgj gjb E`rfstfgj gt t`i ecjvirkijei co pgrtfeudgr strigms co mfb-

twijtfit` eijtury rigdftfis. \ir`gps t`fs fs w`gt t`i ibftcrs co R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj migj w`ij t`iy sgy t`gt

—[rftfjk wgs t`i ridfkfcj t`gt hcujb Mirtcj cvir tc `fs Kcb. @i wcudb kfvi hfrt` tc Kcb fj `fmsido hy wrftfjk

ghcut `fs jiib ocr Kcb tc hi hcrj fj `fm.”5 [rftirs ct`ir t`gj Mirtcj mgy prcbuei mcri pctijt cr duefb prcsi ―  

cr hittir pcitry ―  yit mgjgki tc rivigd dfttdi co t`i dfoi cut co w`fe` t`i wrftfjks imirki. Ct`ir ridfkfcus mgykdcw mcri hrfk`tdy fj t`i eruefhdi co Kcb‖s egddfjk, gjb Kcb gdcji mgy ajcw co ft. Hut t`i wgy fj w`fe`

Mirtcj dfvib hy wrftfjk, digvfjk g afjb co pgpir trgfd fj `fs wgai, hrfjks `fs dfoi fjtc ridgtfcjs`fp wft` cur cwj.

@fs gets co tiddfjk gjb ri-tiddfjk, tixt tc iyi rgt`ir t`gj vcfei tc igr, ecjtfjui tc `gvi ecjsiquijeis.

Ocr rigbirs w`c oiid g sijsi co riscjgjei wft` Mirtcj, t`i ixpirfijei egj hi scmit`fjk gafj tc gj getugd

ridgtfcjs`fp, gjb wi `gvi mgy spiga co —ajcwfjk Mirtcj.” Vit `i wgs gdsc g —pirscj w`c jchcby ajcws,” gsXcwgj [fddfgms biserfhib `fm fj g pgrgbcxfegd trfhuti priefsidy t`frty yigrs gkc>

Rrut` egj cjdy hi spcaij hy g mgj jchcby ajcws, hiegusi cjdy fj t`i ujajcwj pirscj fs t`iri jc

chstruetfcj tc rigdfty1 t`i ikc co sido-crfijtib bisfri gjb mgjfocdb qugdftfis, siiafjk tc bcmfjgti gjb

crkgjfzi t`i wcrdb, fs ghsijt. R`iri fs jc-cji t`iri tc ajcw1 hut w`gt fs t`iri tc ajcw fs t`i ocrm, t`i

ecjofkurgtfcj co g wfbir rigdfty gs ixprissib fj cji pdgei, cji stcry. Ft wfdd jct hi t`i stcry co gj

fjtiristfjk gjb crfkfjgd pirscjgdfty, hut t`i stcry co cji sirfis co rispcjsis tc gjb riodietfcjs co t`i

eurrijts gjb strueturis co t`i wcrdb.2 

Rc sgy t`iri fs —jc-cji t`iri tc ajcw” fs jct tc quistfcj t`i rigdfty co R`cmgs Mirtcj, cr t`i fjtikrfty gjb

gut`ijtfefty co `fs tistfmcjy. R`gt wcudb hi ghsurb> @fs orfijbs, hrct`ir mcjas gjb mgjy ct`irs w`c ajiw t`i

mgj ecjtfjui tc krcujb `fs wrfttij dikgey fj t`i pirscj t`iy `gvi ajcwj gjb dcvib. R`i ujajcwj Mirtcj, t`i

ofetfcjgd Mirtcj, gdsc ecjtfjuis tc spiga orcm `fs ixpirfijei fjtc cur cwj, fj bfsgrmfjkdy ogmfdfgr gjbijkgkfjk wgys. @i ecjtfjuis tc ijkgki us gs t`cuk` g oiddcw pfdkrfm. @fs wcrbs bc ivcai t`i pirscj, hut t`i

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 pirscj fs jct t`i oceus cr t`i ghfbfjk fmprissfcj. R`i rigbir, rgt`ir t`gj dfjkirfjk fj t`i s`gbcw co g

 pirscjgdfty w`c gppigds cr wcrbs w`fe` `cca fjtc us, fs prcmptib fjstigb tc rispcjb tc t`i pirspietfvis,

fjsfk`ts gjb mccbs w`fe` `fs wcrbs ecmmujfegti. Mirtcj wrcti `fs dfoi w`fdst `i ocddcwib g bfvfji vcfei gjb

ocrkib migjfjk cut co mimcry gjb fmmibfgey1 t`i wrftfjk siips fjtc gjb hiecmis fj turj pgrt co cur prisijt

dfvis. Ucmit`fjk vftgd odcws hitwiij us - hitwiij mysido gjb t`fs Mirtcj, hitwiij ycu gjb mi ―  hiegusi `i

dfvib `fs wrftfjk. Ucmitfmis ft fs nust g mgttir co `gvfjk cur oiidfjks, dcjkfjks gjb ixpirfijeis goofrmib. Ct`ir

tfmis, gs wi pgy gttijtfcj tc w`gtivir ft fs t`gt `gppijs fj t`i wfbir rigdfty co cur ecjjietibjiss, wi ofjbcursidvis ri-oceusib fj t`i mfbst co g orgkmijtib, bfstrgetfjk wcrdb hy grtoud yit egjbfb sijtijeis.

\ir`gps ft wgs g mfstgai tc dit my fjtirist fj Mirtcj ivcdvi fjtc t`i suhniet ocr g t`isfs, w`iri fjivftghdy t`i

ecjtimpdgtfvi ecmpgjfcjs`fp wgs cvirs`gbcwib hy bfsprcpcrtfcjgti gttijtfcj tc migjfjk fj tixts. [rftfjk egj

scmitfmis kit fj t`i wgy co dfvfjk. R`csi tixts hiegmi ocr g w`fdi mcri stgtfe gjb eumhirscmi, rgt`ir t`gj

eduis ghcut g wgy co bcfjk t`icdcky. F `gb ocujb ft igsfir tc ecjjiet wft` t`i ixfstijtfgd erigtfvfty co Mirtcj t`i

 pgrghdi t`gj tc serutfjfzi Mirtcj gs g se`cdgr. Orcm eirtgfj pirspietfvis i fs pirsfstijtdy ecjtrgbfetcry gjb

jctcrfcusdy gvirsi tc systimgtfe t`cuk`t1 hut migjfjk imirkis tc rinuvijgti cr kufbi cur cwj gttimpts gt dfvfjk

widd fo wi egj trust gjb ijkgki `fs tistfmcjy. Rfmi gjb gkgfj fj Mirtcj‖s wrftfjk, vcegtfcj fs ixprissib

t`rcuk` g yigrjfjk tc dfvi widd. Gjb dfvfjk widd siims tc fjvcdvi scmi ujbirstgjbfjk co t`i mystiry co hct` t`i

 pgrtfeudgrfty gjb t`i ujfvirsgdfty co cur s`grib `umgj ixpirfijei fj t`i wcrdb gjb fj Kcb. Ocr Mirtcj, cj hgdgjei, t`i dfvfjk wgs t`i t`fjk. R`i get co wrftfjk gjb g wgda fj t`i wccbs wiri hct` dfoi.

Mirtcj bfb siim scmiw`gt gmusib gjb g dfttdi bfsmfssfvi w`ij `i wgs gpprcge`ib hy g stubijt wfs`fjk tc

mgai `fm suhniet co gj gegbimfe t`isfs. Gjb gegbimfe t`icdckfgjs `gvi tijbib tc hi bfsmfssfvi co Mirtcj gst`icdckfgj> —Gs g t`icdckfgj F `gvi gdwgys hiij g puri gmgtiur,” `i wrcti fj g bgra mccb cj Nuji ?, 76?7,

—gjb t`i prcoissfcjgds risijt gj gmgtiur mgafjk sc mue` jcfsi.”9 Mirtcj wgs t`i ofrst tc gbmft `i puhdfs`ib

scmi mibfceri wcra, yit `i tige`is us tc rigb ige` co `fs fmmijsidy vgrfib tixts gs ecjtixtugd, gs trgjsfijt

saite`is, gdwgys fjecmpditi, sirvfjk tc egrry t`i wrftir tc gjct`ir pdgei w`iri `i mfk`t scmi bgy ri-wcra t`i

sgmi t`imis cr riecddietfcjs fj scdftubi cr fj puhdfe. [rftfjk gs getfcj, jct prcbuet.

G oiw yigrs gkc F gbbrissib g risigre` simfjgr co stgoo gjb stubijts gt t`i ecddiki w`iri F t`ij wcraib. @gvfjk

 hiij fjvftib tc prisijt scmit`fjk ghcut Mirtcj tc g krcup ijkgkib prfmgrfdy wft` t`icdckfegd ocrmgtfcj, F

e`csi tc oceus cj scmi co Mirtcj‖s t`fjafjk ghcut t`i migjfjk co ibuegtfcj.

R`i purpcsi co ibuegtfcj fs tc s`cw g pirscj `cw tc biofji `fmsido gut`ijtfegddy gjb spcjtgjicusdy fjridgtfcj tc `fs wcrdb - jct tc fmpcsi g prioghrfegtib biofjftfcj co t`i wcrdb, stfdd diss gj grhftrgry

biofjftfcj co t`i fjbfvfbugd `fmsido.? 

R`iri wgs kijirgd impgt`y fj t`gt mfssfcj-crfijtib ecddiki w`iri gut`ijtfe, spcjtgjicus gbgptghfdfty tc jiw

wcrdbs wgs g safdd wi scuk`t tc fjeudegti gjb bividcp. R`i strijkt` co rigetfcj orcm scmi prisijt surprfsib mi,

`cwivir, gs F ecjtfjuib wft` Mirtcj‖s gssirtfcj t`gt sue` ibuegtfcj "migjs mcri t`gj digrjfjk1 gjb ocr sue`

ibuegtfcj cji fs gwgrbib jc bikrii. Cji krgbugtis hy rfsfjk orcm t`i bigb. Digrjfjk tc hi cjisido migjs,

t`iriocri, digrjfjk tc bfi fj crbir tc dfvi."; 

Mirtcj‖s gppgrijt bfsmfssgd co gegbimfe qugdfofegtfcj gjb stydi ―  gdcjk wft` `cjcur, rieckjftfcj, stgtus gjb—sueeiss” fj kijirgd ―  wgs `igrb hy scmi co t`gt ecddiki gubfijei jct cjdy gs erftfegd hut gs `ypcerftfegd> @i

`gb g puhdfe vcfei1 co ecursi `i jiibib jc bikrii cr gegbimfe stgtus fj crbir tc hi `igrb. @i wgs krigtdygbvgjtgkib hy efreumstgjei, ecjtixt, dgjkugki gjb oriibcm orcm bfsruptfcj. @i `gb tfmi tc wrfti…. Mirtcj‖s

 pcfjt wgs dcst tc se`cdgrs orcm sftugtfcjs w`iri ocrmgd ibuegtfcjgd qugdfofegtfcjs gjb tfmi tc wrfti gri g rgri prfvfdiki, gjb t`i dfaidf`ccb co hifjk puhdfs`ib viry sdfm. Mirtcj wgs gwgri co t`i gmhfkufty> [rftfjk gjb

mcjgstfefsm scmitfmis oidt dfai fjecmpgtfhdi vcegtfcjs. R`i psye`fgtrfst Krikcry ^fdhccrk0 bfsturhib Mirtcj

wft` t`i sukkistfcj t`gt t`i mcja wgs cvirdy ecjeirjib tc brgw gttijtfcj tc `fmsido gjb tc g dfoi w`csi vfrtuis

trgbftfcjgddy fmpdfib chseurfty, gjcjymfty, wft`brgwgd orcm t`i puhdfe stgki. [gs t`fs rigddy —digrjfjk tc bfi fj

crbir tc dfvi”3 [`it`ir wi gkrii wft` ^fdhccrk‖s gssissmijt bipijbs tc scmi ixtijt cj w`it`ir wi t`fja t`gt

gj fmpudsi tc ecmmujfegti, tc puhdfs`, fs jieissgrfdy cr prfmgrfdy ghcut kgfjfjk puhdfe rieckjftfcj, cr fjbiibghcut jgrefssfsm. Ft fs gj gssumptfcj ivij mcri igsfdy mgbi fj t`i irg co Ogeihcca , eidihrfty-sgturgtfcj, gjb t`i

ergvfjks co gbcdiseijts co gdd gkis ocr ogmi cr g puhdfe prcofdi. Egj wi rigb gj gut`cr w`c siimfjkdy wrftis sc

mue` ghcut t`imsidvis, wft`cut scmi bfstgsti3

[i egj fo wi gpprcge` Mirtcj‖s wcrbs gs gj gut`ijtfe gttimpt tc rimgfj oceusib cj t`i issijtfgds co dfvfjk widd(t`gt fs, ocr g E`rfstfgj, tc dfvi —fj E`rfst”). [i t`ij miit g ecmpgjfcj rgt`ir t`gj gj gspfrfjk eidihrfty, gjb

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mgy fj t`i prceiss bfsecvir t`gt cur cwj —byfjk tc t`i wcrdb" riqufris us tc wft`brgw orcm t`i grtfofefgdfty co

cur cwj efreumstgjeis, fj crbir tc rfsi fj E`rfst. Mirtcj‖s e`ccsfjk gjb `fs fjsfk`ts prcmpt us tc ecjsfbir cur

cwj e`ccsfjk. Gjb fo t`iri gri tijsfcjs hitwiij cur gspfrgtfcjs gjb cur dcjkfjk tc dfvi, t`isi tijsfcjs mgy turj

cut tc hi g kfot cj t`i pgt` co bfsefpdis`fp. Mirtcj crfkfjgddy eguk`t my gttijtfcj hiegusi co t`i wgy fj w`fe`

`i dfvib gjb wrcti ixfstijtfgd, vcegtfcjgd tijsfcjs.

Gt t`i gki co jfjitiij F wgs riidfjk gotir g bfsturhfjk gjb trgjsocrmgtfvi tfmi fj Jcrt` Hf`gr, Fjbfg, gjb wgs pripgrfjk tc kc up tc Egmhrfbki. Ergvfjk hct` scdftubi gjb g edui gs tc `cw tc rispcjb tc ixtrimi pcvirty gjb

fjnustfei, gjxfcus dfai sc mgjy ct`irs ghcut t`i pirsfstijt juedigr ocripdgy co t`i Erufsi mfssfdi irg, strukkdfjk

tc mgai ecjjietfcjs gjb tc ofjb my oiit gjb my scud, F sgt wft` g kccb mgj ―  mfjfstir, getfvfst, orfijb ―  w`c

`igrb hitwiij t`i dfjis. @i `gjbib mi g ecpy co Mcjfeg Ourdcjk‖s hfckrgp`y co Mirtcj>6 —F t`fja ycu‖dd dfai

t`fs,” `i sgfb. F‖b `igrb t`i jgmi co R`cmgs Mirtcj gjb rigb g oiw quctib ixeirpts, dfttdi mcri. \itir wgs rfk`t>

F bfb dfai ft.

Ourdcjk‖s hcca wgs mit wft` scmi erftfefsm, pgrtfeudgrdy orcm cvir t`i Gtdgjtfe, hut ft wgs widd-wrfttij gjb

iooietfvidy briw t`fs rigbir fjtc t`i riecrbib dfoi co Mirtcj. R`i ghfbfjk fmprissfcj cj ofrst rigbfjk wgs co g

ycujk mgj krgppdfjk pirsfstijtdy wft` quistfcjs co vcegtfcj, siiafjk `fs pdgei fj t`i wcrdb> [cudb `i cpt ocr

scefgd ecmmftmijt cr ecjtimpdgtfvi scdftubi3 @cw bcis g pirscj mgai g bfooirijei fj tfmis co scefgd up`igvgd

cr fj t`i mfbst co ecrrcsfvi biegbijei3 [`y bc scmi picpdi oiid sue` g strcjk fmpudsi tc dfvi g dfoi t`gt ecujtsocr scmit`fjk fj t`i puhdfe grijg3

F ocujb fj Mirtcj g trgfd co quistfcjs gjb priceeupgtfcjs w`fe` ie`cib scmi co t`i bfstrgetfjk t`cuk`ts w`fe`

`ujk grcujb dfai mcsquftcis cj gj ct`irwfsi hgdmy ivijfjk. F `cmib fj cj w`gtivir `i `gb wrfttij burfjk t`iyigrs w`ij, prieibfjk Kit`simgjf, `fs jiib tc biefbi gjb tc get fjtijsfofib. F hiegmi ogsefjgtib wft` My

 Grkumijt wft` t`i Kistgpc7<

, t`i cjdy —jcvid” Mirtcj puhdfs`ib. Fj t`i mcri dccsi gjb pdgyoud stydi co g wrftir

stfdd ofjbfjk `fs dftirgry vcfei, t`i hcca ecmprfsis erigtfvi fmprissfcjs co g mfjb hct` `immib fj gjb tcssib

ghcut hy t`i wcrdb.

Hut fo ycu wgjt tc fbijtfoy mi, gsa mi jct w`iri F dfvi, cr w`gt F igt, cr `cw F ecmh my `gfr, hut gsa

mi w`gt F gm dfvfjk ocr, fj bitgfd, gjb gsa mi w`gt F t`fja fs aiipfjk mi orcm dfvfjk ouddy ocr t`i t`fjk

F wgjt tc dfvi ocr. Hitwiij t`isi twc gjswirs ycu egj bitirmfji t`i fbijtfty co gjy pirscj. R`i hittir

gjswir `i `gs, t`i mcri co g pirscj `i fs.77

 

R`i jcvid ―  wrfttij nust hiocri `i ijtirib t`i mcjgstfe dfoi, gjb puhdfs`ib nust gotir `fs bigt` - rimgfjib g afjbco hije`mgra ocr Mirtcj, t`i prcbuet co g vftgd gjb erigtfvi ipfscbi, g tfmi co bfseirjmijt gjb co e`ccsfjk. @i

wcudb ivijtugddy ivcdvi t`i vcfei w`fe` ixprissib dfoi wft` priefsfcj gjb trgjspgrijey gjb wft` g pcit‖s grt.

Migjw`fdi, My Grkumijt wft` t`i Kistgpc ―  hy jc migjs krigt ofetfcj - egrrfib t`i siibs co gj ixfstijtfgd

t`icdcky w`fe` ecudb imirki mcri ouddy gotir t`i gut`cr `gb dgrkidy bigdt wft` t`i jiib tc dgy bcwj scmi scrt

co gutchfckrgp`fegd orgmiwcra. @i riturjib tc t`i jcvid fj `fs ofjgd yigr wft` scmi gooietfcj, gjb ribfsecvirib

t`iri trgeis co t`i byjgmfe fmpudsi co Kcb ocrkfjk vcegtfcj cut co e`gcs. Mirtcj ecmmijtib t`gt `i ijncyib

mfxfjk up ipfscbis co `fs getugd ixpirfijei wft` puri fjvijtfcj fj t`gt jcvid-wrftfjk pirfcb. Fo `i `gb ecjtfjuib

tc wcra fj sfmfdgr vifj wi wcudb jct —ajcw Mirtcj” gs wi bc. Hut Mirtcj kriw wgy hiycjb My Grkumijt  gjb

R`i Uivij Utcriy Mcujtgfj, prcbuefjk wrftfjk w`fe` brgws t`i rigbir fjtc g mcri egjbfb, sirfcus, ujkugrbib

bfgdckui co t`i `igrt.

R`iri gri hittir wgys co biserfhfjk w`gt F gm rige`fjk cut ocr `iri, gjb F ocujb cji sue` fj g biserfptfcj co t`iwcra co dgti krigt hduismgj, Nc`j Dii @ccair, w`c ecjnurib wft` oiw wcrbs, oiwir e`crbs gjb r`yt`mfe mcgjs

gj iooiet jct bfssfmfdgr tc t`gt w`fe` Mirtcj ecudb scmitfmis ge`fivi fj tixt. R`fs biserfptfcj mfk`t gdsc `idp

 put fjtc pirspietfvi t`i mgjy pgssgkis fj Mirtcj w`fe` spiga krfio cr pissfmfsm cr sido-bipriegtfcj>

Gjb t`fs fs `fs grt> t`i grt co t`i @igdir. R`fs fs w`gt g hduis sfjkir getugddy bcis. Hi`fjb gdd co t`ifbfcsyjergefis co tgsti gjb stydi, hi`fjb gdd t`i stgkiergot gjb bivfeis w`fe` gjy dcjk-tirm pirocrmir

bividcps, hi`fjb t`i scjks gjb t`i rfoos gjb t`i se`tfea gjb t`i musfefgjs`fp, fs t`i hduismgj's trui rcdi>

t`gt co cur ecjofbgjt. R`i hduismgj `gsj't `igrb cur pirscjgd, fjbfvfbugd stcry - jct ujdiss `i's g edcsi

 pirscjgd orfijb, t`gt fs - hut `i s`cudb mgai us oiid t`gt `i ajcws ft gjywgy, t`gt `i `gs `igrb us gjb

ujbirstgjbs us. Hy tiddfjk `fs stcry - cr g vgrfgtfcj co `fs stcry, cr sivirgd vgrfgtfcjs co `fs stcry, cr ivij

gj cutrfk`t imhrcfbiry co `fs stcry - Nc`j Dii @ccair ijghdis us tc ogei cur cwj. Fj t`fs sijsi, t`i hduismgj fs cur ecjoisscr, cur s`rfja1 ft fs `fs nch tc ocrkfvi us gjb ecmocrt us, s`cudbir cur hurbijs gs

`i fjvftis us tc `idp `fm s`cudbir `fs cwj. Gkgfjst t`i ocreis co wfeaibjiss, t`i prige`ir fs cur digbir1t`i kijirgd w`c mgrs`gds cur ocreis1 t`i ecjbuetcr w`c cre`istrgtis cur fjstrumijts. Hut w`ij t`i

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 prige`ir's mgjtdi pgssis tc t`i hduismgj, ft fs sc t`gt `i egj ijdfst us fj gj ipfe hgttdi gkgfjst bispgfr….

Fo `i wiri g bcetcr, `i wcudb fjniet us wft` g smgdd, ecjtrcddghdi bcsi co t`gt bispgfr, gj fjceudgtfcj tc

 prctiet us orcm udtfmgtidy sueeumhfjk tc ft. Gjb ft bcisj't mgttir w`c ycu gri. F `gvij't dfvib dfai Nc`j

Dii @ccair. Jift`ir `gvi ycu. Jcr `gs gjycji w`c bfbj't ecmi up fj t`i rgefst gpgrt`ifb Ucut` hitwiij

t`i wgrs. Hut `fs pgfj - riecddietib fj trgjqufddfty gs ft mgy hi, hut ivcaib wft` t`i fmmibfgey co g oris`

 hrufsi - scujbs gs fo ft oiids dfai mfji…. @fs musfe `gs, ivij fo cjdy timpcrgrfdy, fjceudgtib us gkgfjst

bispgfr1 gjb t`gt trfump`gd, edfmgetfe hcckfi fs w`iri wi tistfoy t`gt t`i euri, ocr t`i tfmi hifjk, prcvibsueeissoud. Cjei gkgfj, t`i @igdir `gs bcji `fs wcra....

78 

R`i wcra `i `gs bcji fs tc kfvi dgjkugki gjb t`iriocri migjfjk tc mccbs cr oiidfjks ―  `fs cwj, gjb hy

ixtijsfcj t`csi egptfvgtib cr ecmocrtib hy impgt`itfe tcjis. \gtrfea @grt gjb Ncjgt`gj Mcjtgdbc, fj t`ifr

fjtrcbuetfcj tc R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj, sgy t`gt —Mirtcj ajiw `fs pirscjgd bfdimmgs wiri ujfvirsgd” gjb t`gt—Mirtcj‖s ncurjgds ijecurgki `fs rigbirs tc wrfti t`imsidvis gs dgrki gs `i bfb fjtc t`i Hcca co Dfoi hy

geajcwdibkfjk t`ifr cwj `igrts nust gs t`iy trudy gri.”75

 Ft fs g wgy co biserfhfjk `cw Mirtcj ijecurgkis fj t`i

rigbir g `ghft cr gppriefgtfcj co wrftfjk gs g vftgd getfvfty fj ridfkfcus dfoi1 hut wrftfjk gs getfcj jct fjbudkijei,

gjb cji getfcj gmcjkst mgjy w`fe` grfsi orcm gttijtfcj tc t`i issijtfgds>

Hy `igrfjk Mirtcj‖s dftirgry vcfei, rigbirs gri sibueib fjtc dfstijfjk tc t`gt stfdd, qufit vcfei wft`fj

t`imsidvis, cji t`gt dcjks tc hiecmi fjegrjgti fj scmi cutwgrb kisturi ujfquidy t`ifr cwj.72

 

R`i stfdd, qufit vcfei egj fjbiib hi sibuetfvi, gjb duri t`i ujsuspietfjk scud fjtc g pgssfvfty mgsquirgbfjk gs

 pfity. Mirtcj‖s wrftfjks egj hi usib fj t`fs sibuetfvi wgy (t`cuk `i wcudbj‖t t`gja us ocr ft) fo wi fkjcri t`i

gkftgtib `igrt w`fe` fs gdsc `fs ixpirfijei co Kcb. [rftfjk sfmfdgrdy egj hi gvcfbgjei co t`i jiib tc get

biefsfvidy fj t`i missy rigdftfis co g prissurib wcrdb, gjb Mirtcj wgs cotij ijcuk` trcuhdib hy t`i t`cuk`t t`gt`i `gb hiij wrftfjk `fs dfoi fjstigb co dfvfjk ft.

79 Jc bcuht t`gt fs scmitfmis w`gt wgs `gppijfjk. Hut `i wgs

gdsc wrftfjk `fs dfoi fj crbir tc dfvi ft, cr pir`gps dfvfjk `fs dfoi gs `i wrcti ft.

Fj g wgy ige` cji nubkis `fmsido miridy hy w`gt `i bcis. Bcis, jct sgys. Vit dit us jct ecmpditidy

bfsmfss wcrbs. R`iy bc `gvi migjfjk. R`iy gri ridgtib tc getfcj. R`iy sprfjk orcm getfcj gjb t`iy

 pripgri ocr ft, t`iy edgrfoy ft, t`iy bfriet ft. R`iy gri jct, hy t`imsidvis, ijcuk`. Vit, ujftib wft`

getfcj, t`iy ecjstftuti tistfmcjy gjb t`iriocri biefsfcj, nubkmijt.7?

 

Mirtcj‖s gttimpts tc ixpriss t`i fjtirpdgy co wcrb gjb get scmitfmis ogdtir  cr rige` gj fmpgssi, sc `i mcvis cj

 ―  siiafjk bfooirijt tcjkuis, biipir sfdijeis, ct`ir ridfkfcus orgmiwcras ―  ixtijbfjk `fs ixpirfijei gjb

sigre`fjk ocr dgjkugki hy w`fe` ixpirfijei gequfris migjfjk. Gjb t`iri fs Kcb.

7 Xcwgj [fddfgms, Dcst Fecjs> Xiodietfcjs cj Eudturgd Hirigvimijt  Dcjbcj> R.& R.Edgra Dtb, 8<<<, p.722.

8 Ncurjgd ijtry, Jcvimhir 8<, 7656, fj R`cmgs Mirtcj, R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj> @fs Dfoi Orcm @fs Ncurjgds  

Cxocrb> Dfcj \uhdfs`fjk pde, 8<<<, pp.8?-8;.

5 \gtrfea @grt gjb Ncjgt`gj Mcjtgdbc (ibs.) fj R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj, p.7<.

2 Xcwgj [fddfgms, G \irscj R`gt Jchcby Ajcws> G \grgbcxfegd Rrfhuti tc R`cmgs Mirtcj, Efstirefgj Utubfis

(_cd 75, 76;0>2), riprfjtib fj R`i Mirtcj Ncurjgd, _cd 6, jc 8 (Gbvijt 8<<8), pp. 2?-2;.  

9 R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj, p.887.

? R`cmgs Mirtcj, —Digjfjk tc Dfvi” fj Dcvi gjb Dfvfjk  Dcjbcj> U`idbcj \riss, 76;6, p.5.

;  Dcvi gjb Dfvfjk , p.9

0 Ofcjg Kgrbjir biser fhis gjb gssissis t`fs ipfscbi fj —R`cmgs Mirtcj gjb Br. Krikcry ^fdhccrk>

Yjbirstgjbfjk t`i Byjgmfes”, R`i Mirtcj Ncurjgd  _cd. 77 jc. 7 (Igstir 8<<2), pp.?-78. 

6 Mcjfeg Ourdcjk,  Mirtcj> G Hfckrgp`y Dcjbcj> Ecddfjs, 7608. 

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7< R`cmgs Mirtcj, My Grkumijt wft` t`i Kistgpc Jiw Vcra> Bcuhdibgy, 76?6.

77  My Grkumijt wft` t`i Kistgpc, p.7?<.

78 E`grdis U`ggr Murrgy,  Hcckfi Mgj> R`i Gbvijturis co Nc`j Dii @ccair fj t`i Gmirfegj Rwijtfit` Eijtury,

Dcjbcj> \ijkufj _fafjk, 7666, pp.6-7<

75 R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj, pp.79-7?.

72 R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj, p.79.

79 Uii Ncurjgd ijtry ocr Uiptimhir 8?, 7698 fj R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj, p.750.

7? Ncurjgd ijtry ocr Gukust 7?, 76?7 fj R`i Fjtfmgti Mirtcj, p.85<.