The Technique of Perfection by Robert Graves
The work explores themes of human nature, conflict, and the quest for forgiveness through a narrative involving two hermit monks living in isolation. Their tranquil existence is disrupted when one monk challenges the other to engage in a dispute, seeking to provoke a reaction that would lead to mutual forgiveness. The first monk, embodying a spirit of peace, offers a pebble as a token of friendship, but the second monk, feeling slighted, reacts with anger. As their confrontation escalates, the monks grapple and ultimately fall to their deaths, symbolizing the destructive nature of unresolved conflict. In the afterlife, they encounter Peter at the gates of Paradise, where they attempt to reconcile and forgive each other. However, their fears of judgment and the potential for their past actions to be revealed complicate their path to redemption. The narrative serves as a commentary on the complexities of forgiveness, the human propensity for conflict, and the challenges of maintaining peace in interpersonal relationships. It highlights the irony that true forgiveness often arises from the very conflicts one seeks to avoid, suggesting that the act of forgiving is integral to the human experience. The work ultimately reflects on the necessity of confronting one's emotions and the consequences of inaction in the face of discord.
By Robert Graves · First published 1934 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious · 499 words
First lines
Said hermit monk to hermit monk, / "Friend, in this island anchorage / Our life has tranquilly been sunk / From pious youth to pious age,
"In such clear waves of quietness, / Such peace from argument or brawl / That one prime virtue I confess / Has never touched our hearts at all.
Similar titles
- Forbearance by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- The Bowl And Rim by Robert Graves
- The Good Great Man by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- A Pilgrims Way by Rudyard Kipling
- To Any Saint by Robert Graves
- The Jester by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deep moral questions about forgiveness, conflict, and human nature.
- Religious — The narrative touches on spiritual concepts and the implications of virtue and sin.
- Allegory — The characters and their actions symbolize broader human experiences and moral dilemmas.
Tags
philosophy · forgiveness · conflict · monastic life · tranquility · virtue · anger · dissent · friendship · humility · sacrifice · spirituality
What this Textopian page supports
The Technique of Perfection is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert Graves, dated 1934 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Robert Graves
- Date: 1934 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious, Allegory, Drama
- Length: 499 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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