The Past: A Mirror Of Life's Journey and Its Implications - Research Paper

Introduction

The past can never be changed, nor can one do anything about it. The past is a permanent mark that remains so till the end. It will often go down in history and will forever remain a pointer to things to come. It entails the decisions, acts, virtues, vices, myths, and theories that have formulated themselves into the framework that one call, life. The past is a mirror that can be used to foretell the future, but depending on how one perceives it, it is never a big deal. Does the past have any significant pointer to an individuals' future? The history should never foretell the future. It is the past, neither the present nor the future. The thin line between the past and the resent, however, is the person. Individuals with the least ability to shape their day to day lives and the future often suffer the worst costs.

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Escaping one's past is a problematic phenomenon. In the movie Shane (1953), Shane arrives in Wyoming Valley ready to make amends with his past, a mark that is troubling his conscious. He struggles to put his life as a gunslinger in history, behind him. He is ready to make a new beginning. Shane accepts Joe's invitation to work in his farmland. He settles down to a peaceful and comfortable life at the Starrett's, a place he is ready to call home. He does not and never talks about his past. He puts his gunslinger away, refusing to carry it around as the other farmers do. From his actions, it is evident that his life revolves around guns, killings, and brutality, an experience that he seems to loath and regret.

As he settles his life with the farmers, he realizes that he has to prove to the farmers his worth. They are no doubt suspicious of his past. However, gradually, as he interacts with the farmers, he wins their confidence. In one of the incidences, he fights and defeats Chris, an incident that convinces them of his good intentions. However, as the Fletcher war continues, so does his agony begins. He desires to help the Starret family out of the Fletcher conflict. However, he is torn as he does not want to go back to his past life that entailed gunfights. He tried to fight Morgan and Chris with his bare hands and only resorted to the gun upon the arrival of Wilson. When Wilson shots Ernie, Shane is forced to revert to his rifle, an intensely emotional decision on his part. In his past life, Shane was an excellent gunman and finding himself in a similar situation, and he puts his best acts forward, defeating and killing Fletcher and Wilson within a short time.

Despite Shane's victory over Morgana and Chris, he is tortured and hurt by his actions. He feels that he has not acted morally. Despite ensuring the safety of the Fletcher family, Shane is torn and bitter. After the incident, he understands that his continued stay in the farm may be dangerous. The situation was risky for his well-being and the locals too. He knows that he will be designated as a murder, a cold blood killer. H decides to leave the town, for good and is headed to an unknown place. A place he is going to struggle with his past.

Do people have to struggle with their past as exemplified by Shane? Is it worth it? How much does the past control in one's destiny? Does man have power over his past? How difficult is it to let go of the past? These, among others, present various questions that can be put forth in the movie Shane (1953). According to Billing Letting go, overcoming and holding on the past are difficult life concepts, and many a time, people's lives are shattered by their past experiences' (7). The catchphrase, "let it go" is frequently used to urge people to forget the past and move on, accept that it happens and forge a new life (Blanton 9). But how easy is this in the face of life's challenges and reality?

With or without killing Morgan and Chris, Shane still had the opportunity to forge a new lifestyle. A new way of life and overcome the many challenges that could deny him the chance to live a good life, devoid of past experiences. Shane had the opportunity to change his mindset that despite the killings, he was gradually building an authentic and new self. Billing argues that changing oneself is not a sudden and spontaneous incident (19). It requires time, dedication, patience, and the belief that the past will not and cannot foretell one's future. It is all about the mindset. The farmers understood why Shane killed Morgana and Chris. At the same time, it was a fight in which each one was saving his or her life. With Ernie dead, Shane had to make a difficult decision. He had the talent and ability to protect the farmers. The power to fight off the aggressors and doing so could have labeled him a hero and not a killer. However, Billing maintained that it is the guilty feeling that weighs him down, dragging his past into a present issue (21). By doing so, Shane is succumbing to his fears, his past, and his worries. He can overcome these by viewing the entire incident positively and courageously as a brave man.

However, on the other hand, the past is often an indicator of the future. Blanton argued that the past is a mirror through which one can have a glimpse into the future (11). According to Blanton the past entails a lot of psychological imprints that are difficult to let go (12). Guy adds that they are incidences, experiences, and actions that have molded one's core beliefs, virtues, and behaviors (2). Learned and undertaken over a long period, past experiences have a powerful impact on one's life. Shane is no doubt faced with an awkward situation, trying to let go his past, and confronted with a job that requires his past skills. Whichever decision he takes, it is bound to haunt him. Failing to help the Fletcher family may pain his conscious; he had the ability but did not act. On the other hand, killing the aggressors had the impact of reverting to his past life as a gunslinger. He had to make the right decision anyway.

Individuals weak at heart, have the least ability to confront their past and live in peace. The past no doubt defines the future. But at the same time, the human mind can overcome old ways of life and embrace change. It is never about the past catching up with an individual, it is all in mind, holding onto the belief that the past continues shaping one's future. On the other hand, the total sum of an individual is the result of numerous past experiences that have shaped him. It all depends on an individual but never a fact of life. Shane still had the opportunity to regain control of his life, change his mindset, and continue on the path of recovery despite his gunslinger past life. On the other hand, it is possible to claim that Shane's condition was beyond redemption, and he was a victim of his past life. His struggles went beyond his ability to control his reaction. Shane's desire to start a new life is hampered by his continued and perceived battle with his past.

Works Cited

Billing, Erik. "Cognition Rehearsed: Recognition and Reproduction of Demonstrated Behavior." 2012.

Blanton, Brad. Practicing Radical Honesty : How to Complete the Past, Live in the Present, and Build a Future with a Little Help from Your Friends. 1st ed., Sparrowhawk Publications, 2000. https://epdf.pub/practicing-radical-honesty.html

Guy, Faure, ed. New Dynamics Between China and Japan in Asia: How to Build the Future from the Past?. World Scientific, 2010.