“Weathering the Storm”
Caralynn (2009) reflects on the publishing of “Failure” by Philip Schultz, in concert with the effects that the current global economic crisis is having on millions of Americans and their families. Caralynn begins her consideration of the consequences of failure in the current economic downturn by focusing on a bright, New Jersey poet, who overcomes an adolescent case of dyslexic, to ironically become a famous Pulitzer Prize Author. Her thoughts about Philip Schultz’ work, especially in his collection simply called “Failure”, characterizes how generations of thinking in regards to economic and personal success, have been changed forever. The recession has created a negative undertone in society that has ordinary people questioning their beliefs about basic things: “Am I safe? Who can I trust? Is there anything I can do? And how, given everything that has happened, should I live?”
By now it’s safe to assume that everyone has, either directly or indirectly, felt at one time or another, the pain and suffering one might go through after the effects of a personal failure. These days, considering the current recession, “few people can escape the feeling they’re giving up ground”, and that failure “has bubbled to the surface” in just about everyone. Because of massive unemployment levels, the collapse in housing prices, and huge deflation in wages, the present crisis presents challenges that haven’t been seen since the early 1940’s. The recession has brought about a period that has left us all a little more uncertain of our own futures and past fiscal decisions. “It no longer seems possible to avoid failing simply by being conscientious and working hard – the formula our parents, and their parents, took to the bank.” The author portrays this assumption by expressing the meaning of “Failure”, and how it and other culprits of personal and emotional stress can affect each one of us so differently.
The author seems to not only...