The Blind Hunter, written by Kristina Rodanos is about a man named Chirobo, and his hunt with Muteye. Chirobo lives in a village, and everybody loves him, as he is always kind and wise. When children came, he listened, and people thought that his answers were always correct. One day, a man, Muteye, was strolling by and stopped to admire Chriobo’s garden. Chriobo invited him to stay for dinner, and Muteye accepted. Then, Muteye brought up the concept of hunting, which Chirobo said that he loved to hunt, or at least until his vision started to fade. He asks if he can go hunting with Muteye, and Muteye reluctantly agrees. Along their way, Chirobo uses his sense, smell, and hearing to detect many dangers, all that Chirobo didn’t detect. Then, they set up their traps and returned. The next day, they return, and Muteye, seeing that Chirobo had the greater catch, switches their prey, but Chirobo knows. Muteye confesses, and Chirobo forgives him, telling that next time, he should also look with his heart.
Jealousy and spite are greedy traits that none should strive to possess. Jealousy and spite are traits that are equally greedy. They both long for the better, and can sometimes be so reckless that they don’t consider their actions. In the story, Muteye was jealous of how Chirobo was able to catch a large fat duck, while he only caught a thin quail. Out of jealousy and spite, he switched the two animals, no knowing that Chirobo knew. If Muteye hadn’t been so jealous, he would have let it be and have been honest with Chirobo. However, the spite made him angry, and jealousy motivated him to steal the duck and switch it for his thin quail. He didn’t think about the consequences, and hurt Chirobo’s feelings in the process. Many people do things out of jealousy, and none are really for good. Muteye’s act is an example. No matter how much you want something, it is better to get it fair and square then steal it unfairly from someone out of jealousy or spite.
We only perceive the eyes with our eyes and our brain. But, we should also try to see it from the perspective of our heart. When we act, we only act according to our thoughts. We don’t pay attention to how we will feel about this. When Muteye stole the fat duck for Chirobo and traded it for the thin quail, he acted with his mind and did not pay attention to how Chirobo would feel. He never knew that Chirobo knew, and that he had hurt Chirobo’s feelings. He also didn’t think about the guilt that weighed down upon him when Chirobo indicated that he knew that Muteye had switched their catches. Muteye only realized the reality of his actions until after they happened, and after the damage had been done. Sometimes, we just don’t realize the impact of our actions until it is too late. Right now, we are only restoring what we think is correct. But what about which we feel is correct?
Honesty is always a better resort than a lie. When we get in trouble, we think that lying will get us out of it, and the person asking will drop the topic. However, they will always find out someday, so, maybe just tell the truth the first time. When Chirobo confronted Muteye about the duck, Muteye knew that it was a lost case, and gave in, revealing that he had switched the two animals. He shouldn’t have even lied at first, but at least he realized his wrongdoing and confessed to lying about which animal the two hunters caught. By confessing, Muteye showed that he was still honest at most times, even if he lied once to show off and get the better of someone. Muteye, even if he did take advantage of Chirobo’s disability, still, was honest at the end. Even though you can fix a lie with an apology and a truth, it’s always still better to not lie at all. What’s hidden in the dark, always comes to light. Why not just reveal the truth at the beginning to save from having to apologize later?
The book The Blind Hunter written by Kristina Rodanoas is a great book that shares the themes of jealousy and spite, seeing with your heart, not just your eyes, and the benefit of being honest. Muteye is not very honest at first when he compares what he and Chirobo have caught, but when Chirobo confronts him, he decides to be honest and tells the truth about how he switched the animals. When he does so, Chiribo praises him for being able to see with his heart and not just with his eyes. Muteye stole the fat duck out of jealousy, but confessed to it with honesty, which means that he saw with his heart and not just with his eyes. This book illustrates the themes very intricately and also describes many minor themes, in addition to the major ones. Overall, this book is a great read, full of life worthy themes.
Comments