title: The Force of Character
author/editor: James Hillman
reviewed by: June
THE FORCE OF CHARACTER
This book by James Hillman called to me from my book club flier. In the pages Hillman examines the purpose aging serves in the final stags of life. What he means by "force" of character in the title is the persistence of, "...those traits you can't fix, can't hide, and can't accept." He believes the older we become, the more our true nature emerges. One can compare it to a process of refinement or distillation of traits.
His book is divided into three parts: Part One, LASTING, deals with the desire to last as long as one can. It looks at "old-ness" and why oldness is essential to what we love about a person, place or thing. Part Two, LEAVING, looks at how the dysfunctions of aging affect character. He says that character learns wisdom from the body. Part Three, LEFT, asks what is left when you have left. That is character's multi-layered image that has been shaping you from the beginning.
Hillman concedes that "...old age is affliction-especially it is afflicted with the IDEA of affliction."
June says," When I have left, I hope my image carries some humor and a little wisdom."