Lost Horizon:Final Word

On a typical day here in Deerfield, the atmosphere is hurried. Running late to breakfast because you over slept and arriving at practices a couple of minutes late because class went a little over are common and accepted practices. At any given time, you have at least 5 different activities to accomplish. What a startling contrast this life is to that of Shangri-La, an almost utopian paradise in John Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. The motto of the monks of this unique lamasery can be summed up as "Everything in moderation, even moderation." With a calming ambiance and a beautiful setting, Shangri-La looks like somewhere anyone would enjoy being. But can a person like me who is used to the hustle and bustle of big city and boarding school life ever really accommodate to such a lifestyle? My answer is a resounding no.

One of the four survivors of the plane crash which landed them in Shangri La, Miss Brinklow, posed the question " What do the lamas do?" to Chang, a lama-in-training. Chang responded "They devote themselves, madam, to contemplation and to the pursuit of wisdom." Miss Brinklow complains "But that isn't doing anything" which is a common view of many people in the western world. Growing up in a big city, constantly seeing people and cars going back and forth has become a welcome sight for me. The knowledge that there was always something fun and interesting to do comforted me. When imaging Shangri- La, I can't help but envision a place where no one has anything to get excited about and there is nothing fascinating to do. The monks spend most of their time reading and pursuing wisdom which should also be done in moderation. However, there is no alternative so it is difficult to do anything else.

Father Perrault, the leader of Shangri-La, tells Conway that it will be a place of refuge when the rest of the world finally destroys itself and also a place overlooked by the destruction because of its humility and insignificance. The promise of protection seems enticing but I think the kind of destruction Perrault speaks of is far of in the future. This translates into spending years upon years in preparation for a time that