The Utopian Philosophy of Shangri-La in James Hiltons Lost Horizon Ess

The Utopian Philosophy of heaven in throng Hiltons Lost Horizon For some people life may non be satisfactory. Life has many troubles including death, pain, and suffering. It leaves little apprehend. There ar ways in which people can live to have a good life. This method of how a person should live is viewed differently thoughout the world. James Hilton represents this combination of ideas and glossinesss in the novel, Lost Horizon (1933). This novel tells the tale of intravenous feeding distinctively different people hideawaying from a war zone. In their retreat they are kidnapped and taken by plane deep into the Himalayan plentifulness wilderness. Little did they know that here in the confines of the mountains there is a paradise. This paradise is called Shangri-La and is a Tibetan Monastery and community in a place of splendid beauty. Surprisingly, the kidnapped group finds that they are considered guests in this elevated community. They are apprehensive of the cerebrated treatment that they receive, but soon accept and enjoy their misfortune. Shangri-La is a paradise, but the guests become held prisoner to pleasure and happiness. In the prison term they spend at Shangri-La they learn that this is a Utopia where they do not age. Because of the peoples long life, they find time to become educated and achieve stoicism and profundity, ripeness and wisdom, and the clear enchantment of memory (155). Surprisingly, the paradise is rich in culture. It contained plow of art that museums and millionaire alike would have bargained for (94). Along with the arts, Shangri-Las library contains a stack of books that the whole atmosphere was more of wisdom than of learning (95). The distinct philosophical views of Shangri-La create the essence of th... ...bligation. Kants theory to portray virtue is limpid throughout the novels orbit to make sure that everyone will find everything rather satisfactory (68). These four distinctively different philosophical th eories create a complex web of mental environment, which is the most important aspect of the setting in this novel. These philosophies are so effectively blended into the spirit of Shangri-La, that they created a new philosophical fusion a perfect society. The philosophical beliefs of the Shangri-Lain culture is what frames it into a Utopia. The philosophy is not only the setting, it is the deeper meaning of the story. This setting gives hope to the weary, and may be a link into the development, through philosophical understanding, of a perfect world. Works CitedHilton, James. Lost Horizon. PocketBooks Simon & Schuster Inc. New York, 1960.