Jennifer’s answer to “Just finished this and need a little help: 1) still not sure why Mr. Bevins appears with multiple e…” > Likes and Comments
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I don't think your second explanation is quite on the mark, to be honest. The characters can't move on because they have not reconciled themselves to having lost the material world. The book never suggests that the reverend made any mistakes. In fact, I don't think his vision is ever explained or justified in the book. It's just mysterious and otherworldly. But all the "ghosts" refuse to admit that they are actually dead.
What Noah said. They are all holding onto unfinished business of one sort or another and that is what keeps them there.
I read it both ways. There is a sense of both hiding from the truth of their own lives (willing ignorance), and also a sense that they world has too much beauty left to leave behind.
I think the reverend did make mistakes and that was why he was to be sent to hell, but he escaped and went back to the bardo. Jennifer, that's a very interesting interpretation. I will have to read it again. I thought that they were still living with regrets and still had unfinished business.
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Noah
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Jun 21, 2017 08:20PM
I don't think your second explanation is quite on the mark, to be honest. The characters can't move on because they have not reconciled themselves to having lost the material world. The book never suggests that the reverend made any mistakes. In fact, I don't think his vision is ever explained or justified in the book. It's just mysterious and otherworldly. But all the "ghosts" refuse to admit that they are actually dead.
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What Noah said. They are all holding onto unfinished business of one sort or another and that is what keeps them there.
I read it both ways. There is a sense of both hiding from the truth of their own lives (willing ignorance), and also a sense that they world has too much beauty left to leave behind.
I think the reverend did make mistakes and that was why he was to be sent to hell, but he escaped and went back to the bardo. Jennifer, that's a very interesting interpretation. I will have to read it again. I thought that they were still living with regrets and still had unfinished business.
