Quote by Ralph Ellison, on initiations at
Many of the rites of passage, those rituals of growing up found in our society, are in the form of such comic, practical joking affairs--which we ignore in the belief that they possess no deeper significance. Yet it is precisely in their being regarded as unimportant that they take on importance. For in them we ritualize and dramatize attitudes which contradict and often embarrass the sacred values which we proclaim through our solemn ceremonies and rituals of nationhood.
Summary
This quote suggests that the seemingly insignificant rituals and practical jokes involved in the process of growing up often hold a deeper significance. These rites of passage are often dismissed as trivial, but it is precisely their perceived insignificance that grants them importance. Through these rituals, we unintentionally express attitudes that contradict and embarrass the values we claim to uphold in our more formal ceremonies and national rituals. In essence, these informal rituals highlight the contradiction between our public declarations and our actual behavior, pointing to the underlying societal hypocrisy.
Topics
Hazing
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