In many different ways, the ideology that there exists a “proper use” for anger has become ingrained in American culture, so Thurman is sympathetic to people’s aims and context. Still, he argues that we need to find a better way and not simply accept what we have as the best possible situation merely because it’s what we’ve always had:
- “We should be alert to a strong resistance within ourselves to the idea that anger is a detriment, that it has negative consequences. Yet we must entertain such an idea and explore it carefully, if we are to free ourselves from individual and collective enslavement to this militaristic culture of anger, violence, and war.”
What does Thurman suggest? He recognizes that anger can motivate people to do good, but insists that the real motivation is not so much one’s anger but the passions that lie behind that anger. We should recognize that anger is not mere irritation, annoyance, or displeasure. Anger occurs whenever such feelings explode into a desire to do harm to someone in retaliation for our irritation, annoyance, or displeasure — even if they aren’t directly responsible for what has happened to us. Irritation may give rise to anger, but anger gives rise to hatred and violence.
What if we could stop ourselves short at the “irritation” stage, thus never allowing hatred and violence to gain a foothold? What if we could use the passion produced by displeasure over injustice in a manner that doesn’t cause us to cause harm to others? In that case, the passions that drive anger could still be harnessed without anger being produced as well. What if we could direct our energies to help those who are suffering rather than simply seek to do violence to those who have caused suffering?
- “Our goal surely is to conquer anger, but not destroy the fire it has misappropriated. We will wield that fire with wisdom and turn it to creative end”
This is Thurman’s prescription for an anger-free society. It’s not easy advice to follow, but there is a lot of merit in what he has to say. Those who argue that there is a place for anger, if it is properly directed, are vindicated after a fashion because he acknowledges the value in using the passion that drives anger. Those who argue that anger should be overcome are also vindicated after a fashion because Thurman advises that we turn our passion to better pursuits than trying to do violence. Ultimately, though, both positions are transcended into something that is more complex and nuanced than either can manage alone.
The keys in all of this are patience, tolerance, forgiveness, and compassion — none of which are easy attitudes to cultivate, especially given how quickly and easily anger can overtake a person. That is also part of Thurman’s argument: we should recognize that instead of “expressing” our anger, our anger actually overcomes and controls us, preventing us from doing what we know to be right and necessary. If we want to remain in control of our lives in any fashion, we cannot give in to anger or rage.
As a side note, this is not exactly the attitude adopted by his daughter’s character in the Kill Bill movies, but perhaps they can be presented in concert with the book for an interesting class. The Bride certainly acts like she is cool and calculating throughout as she seeks her revenge, but perhaps her character is less in control than at first appears?
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