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Identify a passage or scene that demonstrates an insight into human nature in The Grey Wolf. Discuss the quote or scene and what it means to you or how it has impacted you.
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“Because knowledge really was power.”
“Because Armand Gamache knew something his colleagues did not. That given direction, clear expectations and encouragement, given a second chance, people could flourish.”
“How easily humans could adjust to darkness. To dark thoughts and darker deeds. Until, finally, the darkness became normal.”
To me, these quotes show the importance of being a positive influence, especially because we do not know how important that positivity will be in a person’s life at a particular moment. I recall when I was teaching, a student was killed in a car accident. I did not teach the material for that day nor give the test that was supposed to happen. Instead, I allowed the class to share feelings and thoughts about their classmate who had died.
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What a gift for your students Nancy. In that moment, in that time, you were the one who gave them what they needed most – a safe place to deal with their feelings together instead of in isolation. Tossing the days agenda also speaks loudly. It showed your students how much you sincerely care for them not just the lesson plan. Your students are lucky to have had you impact their lives.
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I agree with Libby, your students were lucky to have a teacher who cared and put thought into nurturing a student’s spirit and emotional well being. And your examples are perfect to show LP’s insights that align with your own. How we can all help others to feed their grey wolves instead of their blacks just by being a positive influence or shining a bit of our own light to guide them out of the darkness. And … I do believe your posts here always share a bit of your light with us here too!
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You providing your students with the space and time to be present with their emotions was truly a gift, like Libby says. One should never underestimate the power of kindness and positive influence. We so often learn and are lead by example (as Katherine points out), even as adults.
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Those are three great examples, Nancy, and they had resonated with me as well. I believe that knowledge is indeed powerful; it’s necessary for understanding, for clear thinking and judgments, and to banish fear. When I worked in critical care as a nurse, I was expected to take on a lot of personal responsibility and do a lot of frankly, very scary things to other people that if done incorrectly, could cause grievous harm, including death. My remedy was to learn everything I could about what scared me, and practice until it no longer did. With knowledge came the power to understand and react without being paralyzed by doubts and fears. It’s so important to understand what is happening and why, how one thing affects another, and what to do if things go wrong. That can apply to so many of life’s lessons.
I was also affected strongly by the second statement you chose—“That given direction, clear expectations, and encouragement, given a second chance, people could flourish.” I have always enjoyed LP’s emphasis on this concept in her writing, and love that Armand is a collector of people who require that second chance, and do so well. This also applied to me as a young nurse– I had zero medical background when I went into that field, and was often way behind my fellow students who often had someone in the family who was in the profession, and seemed to understand so much more. I didn’t know squat when I got there, and had a hard time figuring out what was important and what was not. Some of my instructors weren’t very patient with me, and I started to feel pretty low about myself and my confidence ebbed. But I was fortunate to come across a couple of people who did exactly what’s mentioned in that statement– I was given that direction, the expectations, and encouragement, and I did indeed end up flourishing, much to my surprise!
And your third example had given me much food for thought as well when I’d read it. I love history, and I often think about how one thing leads to another, time and time again, and yet humanity often fails to heed the lesson. I think it’s particularly pertinent at this stage of the world’s development (or perhaps, it’s destruction). I wonder how things like mass genocide, blatant cruelty, overreaching greed and lust for power, etc. can come about, become accepted, by so many. And when I read the statement about darkness, and how we adjust to it, I was moved, and recognized the truth in it. We are often much like the frog in the frying pan, accepting the little changes here and there and getting used to that reality, without looking at the big picture and where it is ultimately leading us. I love that LP has included so many thought-provoking statements like this in her books. Through the wisdom of characters like Armand, we can be reminded of so many important concepts, and we can learn as we are entertained.
Finally, I just want to say that the gift you gave your students on that sad day was priceless. Emotional development is just as important as intellectual development, if we are to be well-rounded people. You gave those students what they needed most on a day like that; brava! -
Our responsibilities for others come with many considerations and potential pitfalls, don’t they? All we can do is to try to do our best and try to educate ourselves and be kind. As you all have said, knowledge and kindness are paths towards caring for others as well as oneself. Nancy and Susan I am touched and impressed by your real-life examples. Thank you for sharing. I can see why the passages you chose and highlighted tie in with your personal experiences and philosophies.
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There are two relationships that spoke loudly to me in The Grey Wolf. The first one is about Daniel and his father. Knowing what we now know about their past history and the causes of the divide between them, I found this particular scene to be most poignant and revealing about how far they have come in bridging that gap. Armand is resting on the sofa when Daniel comes to join him. Daniel explains to his dad the he doesn’t understand what’s going on and he’s scared for his children. But, Daniel says, “I do know that I trust you, more than you trust me.” …”I know there’s more at stake than just me. Maybe one day you’ll trust me as much as you trust Mom. As much as you trust Jean-Guy. I want to help, Dad, and if helping means doing nothing then that’s what I’ll do.”
Daniel shows such maturity in these statements to his dad. Trust is one of the biggest and strongest building blocks in any relationship. Daniel has laid the groundwork for the bridge between himself and his dad. He has admitted to his dad he’s jealous of Jean-Guy which is a huge admission for Daniel. He thinks he’s doing nothing but in those few words he has given his dad the greatest gift ever. His TRUST!!Secondly, the growth in the relationship between Jean-Guy and Ruth made me smile and tear up at the same time. “The old poet struggled to get up. Jean-Guy held out his arms, and she gripped them as he lifted her to her feet. She looks into his eyes. ‘You’d better come home.’ ‘I will’, he whispered and kissed her on both cheeks. “Thank you for looking after the family.” Normally Ruth expresses her feelings for others sarcastically. The more she cares for you the more sarcastic her remarks . Jean-Buy used to hide from Ruth. He cringed when scraps of her poetry showed up in his pockets. Now, Jean-Guy trusts Ruth with his daughter’s safety and happiness. He trusts her with the people he treasures the most. We have come a long way from the “numbnuts” stage of this relationship to sharing honest feelings for each other in a language that doesn’t need to be deciphered.
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I love these examples, Libby. They spoke loudly to me as well and you have perfectly expressed why.
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Yes, I agree with you Libby. This trust that can build in special relationships and creates special bonds between people. It is not easy to form and so easy to break, and little, subtle words and actions can go a long way towards strengthening bonds and increasing trust.
I liked when Gamache got emotional about Jean-Guy bringing him shoes and an ice pack. “When did Jean-Guy begin to look after him, when it had long been the other way around? But as the pain eased, Armand realized it had always been mutual. They’d guarded and protected each other from the moment they’d met, lifetimes ago.”
A little, thoughtful action gave Armand insight and more clarity into their relationship.
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I loved that passage, too, Mei Lan. So sweet and poignant, saying so much.
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This was a poignant scene mei lan. What a remarkable relationship Gamache and Jean-Guy have with each other. I love watching it grow and deepen as time passes.
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Oh Libby, I loved those examples, too. They were subtle, quiet moments, really, but had such emotional impact! So well done, and so satisfying, saying so much.
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Wonderful examples. And even though neither of these relationships are the focus of the books they both provide lovely insights into the healing journeys Gamache, Daniel, Jean-Guy, and Ruth have been on throughout the series.
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A subtle moment for me – when Gamache wipes the whipping cream off of Jean-Guy’s hands in the cafe. It’s a delicate callback to Gamache holding the sticky hands of the dying Charles. Just the gesture shows how Gamache is preoccupied not only with remorse for Charles dying but also his memories surrounding the holding of hands (he remembers Isabelle’s holding of his hand). It comes up several times in the book but that small gesture of Gamache says a lot about how he thinks about others, cares for others and takes care of others. This is the world that we want to live in. One where friends and strangers alike, reach out to and help one another, holding their hand, when needed.
Angie, Jane, Susan W and Susan A discussed this in another thread here for TGW, and Jane wrote a lovely post about this yesterday. Goodness exists and we can carry the spirit of Three Pines everywhere we go, just as Gamache does. And just as we can do here on BCF.
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So often it’s the simple gesture, holding someone’s hand, placing a supportive hand on a shoulder, that send the loudest message of support and compassion. For me it’s even more powerful when we don’t have to ask for it.
I love your example of Gamache wiping the cream off Jean-Guy’s hand.Your example reflects so well the depth of the relationship between Gamache and Beauvoir. -
Katherine, I was struck by that moment with the whipped cream, too. How Armand had considered wiping Charles’ hand before he left the cafe, and then regretted that he hadn’t done so; and then seeing the opportunity not to make the same mistake, he makes sure he does it for Jean-Guy. A reminder to go ahead and make that kind, thoughtful gesture when opportunities arise, because you never know if you’ll ever get another chance.
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Absolutely Susan. Do it now. It is never wrong to do the right thing. It is never wrong to be kind to another person.
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Jean-Guy reflecting on feelings in chapter 34 stood out for me. “In the past Jean-Guy Beauvoir’s disdain of feelings would have been obvious. But since working with the Chief, since going to rehab, since loving Annie, since having two children, he’d come to see how powerful feelings were. In many ways, in every way that mattered, feelings were more real, more powerful than thoughts. They were the engine of perception, which drove thought, which became words and prompted action. Feelings were where it all began. For better and worse.”
As I get older I see more clearly that adults are often driven by feeling far more than I would have ever suspected as a child, where I naively thought adults were naturally wise. Experience and self-reflection reveals how relationships and choices are frequently driven by the feelings of people. How much of my own actions have been prompted by feelings rather than thought.
It’s interesting that Jean-Guy says he had disdain for feelings. He worked so hard to bury them in himself. But to see him embracing feelings and open himself up to them shows how much wiser he’s become, how he’s matured. And by understanding his feelings he’s being rewarded with a full life. I find that quite an uplifting message.
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Tara, I so agree with you! I just adored that passage– such a change in JG’s attitude over the years, and so sweet that he’s been inspired by love, and saved by it. He was such a bundle of pent-up feelings, but was also so intuitive all along– no wonder he was so uncomfortable in his own skin. But now he’s been released from so much of that, and seems so much more content with himself, and able to grow into the person he was meant to be. And not only he benefits— he’s able to be more demonstrative, thoughtful, and compassionate to those he loves, like Annie, his kids, Armand, Ruth— he’s allowed himself to become a more whole person. A good example to learn from and follow.
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I agree with you Tara. Emotions may be hard to face sometimes. We want to bury them instead of dealing with them. But I truly believe emotions are our truest compass in life. We need to let our gut and our heart talk to our brain more often than we do. Jean-Guy is a great example of how learning that has transformed his life. I always wonder what has happened in a person’s life that has caused them to bury their feelings and live in what I call the “numb zone”.
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Tara
I loved this section, too. I am very fond of the more mature Jean-Guy. Emotions and intuition, even instincts, matter to me, personally, and guide many of my decisions, but I am also seeing the flip side of letting feelings rule, especially in The Grey Wolf. Here is the quote:
“in every way that mattered, feelings were more real, more powerful than thoughts.They were the engine of perception, which drove thought, which became words and prompted action. Feelings were where it all began. For better and worse.”
There are examples of “worse.” Armand has such strong negative feelings about Jeanne (for very good reasons) that he makes several errors in judgment that lead to actions that could have ended in tragedy. On the other hand, he bases his trust in his RCMP friend on feelings instead of evaluating him rationally. But he doesn’t trust old friends and colleagues like Madeleine T. Somehow his emotional radar is off. Too much trauma and betrayal? I think Armand shows a great deal of self knowledge and introspection when he brings himself back to evidence-based decision-making. He’s also lucky to have an inner circle that he can trust completely. But I suspect we will continue to see him struggle with the effects of his experiences. Am I too pessimistic?-
Angie, those are really good points. Armand’s rational radar was askew in this book, and that threw me as much as it did him, as I generally trust his instincts when it comes to personal judgments. It was a good example of how everyone can sometimes be led astray by their emotions, and I’m glad that Armand had enough self-awareness to temper some of his judgments, at least, in time. In his business, though, I suppose it really pays to “trust no one,” except those very few that he knows so well, who he knows without a doubt, that he can rely on. And sadly, that group is extremely small for him. He has to navigate a treacherous landscape of truth and lies every day, and it’s amazing that he doesn’t get totally cynical, or just give up sometimes. And that’s true of most of us, probably. How well do we ever really know another person? How good are our instincts, and how do we refine them? Armand is generally so good at doing that, because he uses both his emotions and his rational mind to come to a conclusion. But even then, he’s fallible. It’s a good lesson to remember.
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When Gamache worries he’s slipping into guessing rather than deducing it made me think about all the people believing in conspiracies and misinformation these days. He says he was “in very real danger of turning into a fantasist. Imagining events that never happened. Seeing relationships and connections that might not exist. And wasting time pursuing them. It was one of the great dangers for an investigator. Turning guesses into fact. Interpreting slim evidence to fit a convenient theory. They needed to trust their instincts, but rely on proof.”
So many people these days are turning “beliefs” into facts without knowledge. They really have become fantasists. In its negative extremes it leads to the “flat-earthers” and inquisitions and witch hunts. This is even hinted at in the book when the Dominicans are described as the Hounds of the Lord, the Inquisition. Louise is so good at bringing in small details, and layers into her books that resonate with her bigger themes and insights.
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So many lovely examples; I always enjoy reading the interactions between Jean-Guy and Armand and others’ comments about those. I also enjoyed the unfolding and maturing relationship between Armand and Daniel. I hope that is a theme the LP continues to include.
There is another scene or scenes that I think capture an insight into human nature and how we navigate our relationships with others. The one that struck me involved Frere Simon, acting Abbot and opener of others’ mail. It is a reminder of the power of information and the power that comes both with sharing what others don’t have and withholding it. Armand and Jean-Guy initially regard Frere Simon’s opening others mail as a response to the isolation and boredom of their lives. “Maybe he’s just hungry for anything new. For news. So he opens the mail. Not to manipulate, maybe not even for power, but really just a curiosity about the outside world. I’d probably do the same, eventually.” Except I think Frere Simon doesn’t open the mail out of boredom but out of a sense of his power when he does. Frere Simon struggles not with boredom but with the demands of living in community with his fellow monks.
That is why Frere Roland says, “He’s not a bad man, you know. But it’s possible his place is in the world and not here. God willing, he’ll discover where he belongs. It’s what we all want.”
As Frere Roland indicates, finding one’s place is a pretty human experience and for some people that is a struggle for power of sorts.
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I love your thoughts on Frere Simon. Interesting that both Jean Guy and the older monk gave him the benefit of the doubt by saying that his “nosiness” or curiosity were just a yearning for knowledge about the outside world. Maybe he had chosen the monastic life for the wrong reasons. As the Archbishop explains to Armand, some monks are hiding ” from that voice inside most young men that whispers that they are unloveable.” (228)
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This is a great topic and I appreciate the thoughts and experiences shared here so very much. Nancy started us off with “Because knowledge really was power” and Jane’s last example with Frere Simon resonate with me at this particular moment in time. The headlines that we read today and in the past days where we shake our heads and wonder how this could happen. I worry about the headlines we will read tomorrow and in the coming days. There are such strong parallels with the power one man holds over the entire community because he handles the mail and has the power to learn everything and control the flow of information, and what we see today with both traditional and social media.
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