Class Text #2

The above photo shows the cover of the second book our class was assigned to read this semester. As you can see the title is "The Gift" written by Lewis Hyde. I will just write a few sentences about my opinions on this book. Mame, our class professor, split the class into groups and each group was assigned to read a few chapters. The next class session we had, the groups met together and discussed what they thought of the chapters. Mame than called upon each group to present their opinions to the class regarding their assigned chapters. Our group was assigned to read chps 1-3. These first chapters, obviously, introduced Hyde's idea of the Gift. Hyde's Gift is not an object but more like a verb. The actual ACT of giving represents the Gift itself. Hyde goes on to explain that once a person receives a gift he/she is obligated by the gift giver's honor to return the favor and give a gift to another person. This chain of events is to be carried forth on and on till it returns back to person one. Hyde provides many examples where third-world nations practice this gift giving cycle. He states that these people are brought together and are much well off than we believe them to be. Hyde goes on to state that our society's morals are on a downfall since the wealthy think of only getting wealthier and the poor look upon the rich with hopeful dreams. Hyde states that such a society will fall into ruin sooner or later, while those 'third-world' society's will last longer due to their stronger bonds with one another. All due to the Gift.


My favorite parts in the book are when Hyde supports his ideas with tales of people from all around the world and how they interact with each other. For example, he mentions the Native Americans and how the Great Chief would present his pipe to an honored visitor as a gift and custom would have it that the receiver would than go back to his village and present that pipe to his honored visitor, so on and so forth. However, when the white man came to the Americas and received such a pipe he was ecstatic and took the pipe with him home to show his people what the barbarians gave him. Later on he had the pipe put on display at a national museum. Hyde explains how western society's idea of keeping themselves surrounded by riches and purchasing items for the sole reason to display them, is a callous way to live. I would have to completely agree with Hyde, my religion also does since it preaches to its followers to purchase only what's needed and the rest should be given to charity. We just don't need all the crap we surround ourselves with these days. Ten pairs of shoes is just ridiculous!