Wall•E, Loman and critical thinking

The past two nights have found me watching two separate productions that have made me think. And they couldn’t have been more different.

Two nights ago, Tanya, Megan and I (a venerable Bonaventure trio, if I do say so myself) trekked to Lakewood to see Wall•E. I’m a big Pixar fan and already included three of their films among my all-time favorites — both Toy Storys and Finding Nemo — but Wall•E was a new level of phenomenal for them. Wall•E is the most lovable character Pixar has ever created, with a childlike sense of curiosity, a grown-up sense of loyalty and a human-like, full-of-emotion personality. To make grown human beings like us feel so mightily affected by a robot love story is an accomplishment. To couple that with a subtle political message that never sounds preachy is even more so. I’m hoping my fellow interns want to go see it, too, because I’d love to go again.

Last night, KD and I came into possession of the final two tickets to a sold-out Death of a Salesman at Bratton Theater (thanks, T). I’ve seen dark, emotional plays before, and even been in one (Wilder’s Our Town), but I now realize why Arthur Miller’s masterpiece is considered a cornerstone of American theater and literature. Willy Loman’s desperate, lifelong attempt to live the “American Dream” — and his ultimate failure — was a heart- and gut-wrenching reminder that sometimes you just gotta be happy with where you are and what you have. Willy made a living of not truly living; he constantly asked those he perceived to be more successful than him, “What’s the secret? What’s the secret?” Success, for Willy, is synonymous with wealth. His failure to grasp the true meaning of the American Dream — and that he really was living it, if he’d just stopped for a moment to take it in — is his downfall and Salesman’s greatest tragedy, much more so than his suicidal car ride. It’s a lesson we all need to be taught, often several times. I know I took it to heart.

Look at me, writing an English essay. What can I say? These two productions had a profound impact on me.

Hey, the sun is shining today, it’s 80 degrees and I’ve already enjoyed a bike ride around the grounds. It’s been a good day.