Examples Of Receptivity In Return To Hayneville

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In "On Habit", Alain de Botton observes that a "traveling mindset," to which receptivity, the notion of being open to new objects, is the key to the release of latent layers of value in our accustomed surroundings. In Gregory Orr's "Return to Hayneville," "receptivity" seems to be the key as Orr returns to Hayneville, 40 years after what had been the most tumultuous time of his life. Orr, traveling with his 2 other companions, tends to give them a recount of what he actually had to go through in Hayneville, and how his emotions get the better of him when they reach Hayneville. However, the real problems falls when de Botton seems to suggest that "receptivity" is the key to living a life worth living, as that helps one observe the beauty of his/her surroundings, Whereas in Gregory Orr's "Return To Hayneville," we are able to interpret the limitations to de bottons theories. The main problem lying in de Bottons assumption of "receptivity" being termed as perhaps the greatest thing in the world is the fact that he does not bother showing us the negative …show more content…

de Botton's whole essay "On Habit" is rounded up on the fact that "receptivity" is the key to living a happy life, disregarding its negative aspects and tinkering only with the positive ones. Contrary to de Bottons notion, Gregory Orrs's "Return To Hayneville" gives an indication that the grass is not always green when it comes to being receptive, as it has its limitations too, which de Botton fails to mention. Orr's "receptivity" comes into place when he notices the 3 martyrs laying on ground, observing that "They seemed at peace,