Every story ever told has a morale and a theme, in this case, themes can help the novel expand and give knowledge that not only helps the reader, yet it helps many others. In the book, Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, themes teaches the reader that although something is going wrong, it can and will go right in a matter of time, equally as important, if something is going right, it can go wrong very easily. With very detailed Philosophical arguments and quotes, this novel changes the perspective as how we handle and view society.
Throughout this whole novel many themes arrive that help to character experience and enjoy his encountering.In the theme of quality Phaedrus, has discovered that the rational division of the world can be interpreted as subjective and objective. Throughout the whole novel, especially in the latter chapters, Phaedrus has to understand and overcome this phenomenon that allows him to discern the good from the bad. After years of studying, Phaedrus, finds a new philosophy to solve this theme. He terms quality as, the overarching entity that allows thinkers to perceive in terms of subjective and objective in the first place. This allows the world to divide itself into categories such as, art, science, religion, mathematics and more. The argument being made here, proves that humanity cannot stand on one subject, it means that humanity will argue, until proven wrong. This is true, throughout history, humanity has changed textbooks to interpret the new rather than the old, which is supported by the argument of quality is a less religious entity, rather a more robust means of understanding the world. In chapter seven, Phaedrus states “ what has become an urgent necessity is a way at looking at the world that does violence to neither of these two kinds of understanding and unites them into one”. This quote thoroughly sums up the theme because he argues that what is or what will become a necessity for survival, such as food and water will be fought, although causing chaos, it will unite those who are in need unless they perceive it and over appreciate the act of kindness during a time of need. This can be clearly argued during The Great Depression, where everything was so valuable that it turned the U.S into a broken nation. Lastly, in Chapter 32, Phaedrus states the best quote to understand quality, “ trials never end, of course. Unhappiness and misfortune are bound to occur as long as people live, but there is a feeling now, that was not here before, and is not just on the surface of things, but penetrates all the way through: we’ve won it.”
Early in the novel, we find out that the narrator goes through electroconvulsive therapy to treat mental illness. This therapy altered him so badly that it gave the narrator a new person, being Phaedrus. Phaedrus’ conflicted identity complicates his relationship with his son Chris. Chris is to young to fully grasp his father mental turmoil, but he notices the change in personality. The odd part is, that the narrator feels obligated to replicate a role he fulfilled when he was a completely different person, although replication is not possible. He refuses to consider his past self and current self to be the same, yet he wants to rewrite his pasts mistakes. The saddest part of this whole novel, is that everyone knows he is mentally challenged, yet he tries his best to cope with what he has, and wants to satisfy everyone and everything. Such as our brave soldiers who protect this nation, they have been cursed with what they have witnessed, sadly giving hen Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They can only recall the bad and poor moments, and yet they try to satisfy everyone and sort of do something that alters the past. This is a serious arguments that the book makes, which is the theme of Identity. People want to find the best for themselves, but sometimes they have to change who they are in order to tackle or handle an obstacle. The best quote to cope with his argument is in chapter 32, where Phaedrus “ For God’s sake relieve him of this burden! Be one person again!” In context, Phaedrus is distracted by the fact that he cannot be the same, yet he tries to change the wrongdoings in the past by correcting them. Going back to the arguments about the veterans, they change their whole lifestyle because whatever still remains of their older selves, can bring back horrid memories, therefore they try their best to become someone else in order to cope with the stress and anxiety form what they have experimented.
The next theme argued is Irrationality, where throughout the novel, Pirsig’s creates rational, objective thoughts with more mystical, subjective ways of thinking. He calls this method, an almost scientific approach to the classical mindset, however, John and Silvia share their romantic mindset. The romantic view is a reaction to the classical view’s inability to encompass some aspects of human experience. Phaedrus reasons that there is not yet an explanation for the phenomenon that allows the for equal rational thoughts. This rational process forces him to abandon the traditional rationality of the scientific method and embark on a new series of philosophical investigations, which lead to the discovery to quality, which was tackled previously. In reality, people tend to get irrational, they tend to make mistakes unknowingly. However once someone has a glimpse of evidence to support their so called rational arguments or belief. When someone becalmed irrational, it’s usually linked with insanity, which is defined as doing something very well knowing that the outcome will not benefit you or your counterparts. Irrationality has to cope with someone who believes the oddest things yet, based on opinion tries to make it a fact. In chapter 3, the quote by Phaedrus helps clarify the argument of irrationality “ Laws of nature are human inventions, like ghosts. Laws of logic, of mathematics are also human inventions, like ghosts. The whole blesse thing is a human invention, including the idea that it isn’t a human invention. The world has no existence whatsoever outside the human imagination. It’s all ghosts, and in antiquity was so recognized as ghosts, the whole blessed world we live in shows common sense is nothing more that the voices of thousands and thousands of ghosts from the pasts.” This arguments surely supports the claim of human irrationality, due to the fact, that this argument has a list of points being covered, however no evidence is being provided, therefore we cannot just assume and justify something just because it sounds or may sound rationally to yourself. Expand the thought, yet making it a fact without supporting detail can damage the reputation of someone and their argument.
The next then of duality focuses on logic. When Phaedrus chooses not to subscribe to the duality of the subjective matter over the objective matter causes a breakthrough. The narrator encourages readers to value moments off “mu” which is Japanese for nothing, especially when yes and no answers can be flourished . However, it is important to mother that even as the narrator deconstructs duality after duality, the novel leaves a core of duality almost completely ignores. Even as Phaedrus and the narrator both use logic to dismantle dualistic misconceptions, the narrator is never reconciled with his previous identity. The idea of duality is to focus on what you solely believe is and add on into ideas to support your belief however not to confuse yourself with irrationality, because that would be arguing something that ha año sense into it. When duality is in place, people usually add on to ideas and expand the notion of their beliefs. Such as in chapter 6 where the narrator states “ but he saw a sick and ailing thing happening and he started cutting deep, deeper and deeper to get at the root of it. He was after something. That is important. He was after something and he used the knife bevaj that was the only tool he had. But he took in so much and went so far in the end his real victim was himself.” The concept of duality shows clearly in those quote since the main purpose or argument is whether he was doing something good, as someone was going through pain and suffering, and you as an individual as doing nothing to help or cope with the idea. When someone is in need, duality shouldn’t mandate your action, morality and the sense of goodness should have you act upon a serious situation. With duality the logic behind the thought is trying to make arguments and arguments rather than focusing of the real problem. It’s trying to eliminate the possibility of threats or Injuries that can be caused due to the fact that someone is in pain. Therefore this quote helps exemplify how duality can be fail and lead up to someone’s pain and suffering.
And lastly the theme of Zen. Pirsig suggests that his book was so successful because it offered , at a pivotal time in American culture, a possible goal to work toward that does not confine. The narrator observes rejection of the capitalist American dream, and mounting popular disgust with the effects of technology as hallmarks of a burgeoning form of anti classical thought. The narrator believes that these sorts of negative ideologies cannot erect anything meaningful in place of the thought they oppose. The narrator uses motorcycle repair as an allegory to describe his concept of Zen when done right, th craft offers precisely the “ positive goal “. Devoted motorcycle maintenance fosters a sense of presence, and most of all commitment to Quality work that allow the mechanic to pursue the process out of an intensive sense of reward. Importantly, the Zen process is separated from egotistical confieran. Through the book, characters driven by ego are met with failure: for instance, Chris is unsatisfied by his adventure, and Phaedrus egotistical attempts to argue his thesis antagonizes and ultimately destroys his sanity. People in today’s society definitely need Zen, they need the positive outlook than can encourage them to move forward and not regress. This will help them and motivate them to do extracurricular activities and pursue careers that they actually are good at and want to be in. Zen is lacking in modern society, proven by the fact that people can perform grandiose acts and yet get not praise whatsoever. Therefore we need to educate society, and motivate them for the little things that have achieved daily, such as; fixing their bed, doing laundry, exercising for a little bit, and more. This will motivate them to perform better and make them wanting to achieve more and perform better. Therefore the level of competitiveness will increase and a lot more people will get jobs and become satisfied. The quote in chapter 2 brings a better understanding to the argument made by stating “ and it occurred to me there is no manual that deals with the real business of motorcycle maintenance, the most important aspect of all is caring about what you are doing is considered either unimportant or taken by granted”. If everyone was complemented for what they have achieved, then they would satisfy themselves and perform much better.