Life lessons from the story
People look for jobs primarily because they have to fulfill basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, belonging, status, recognition and self realisation, as Abraham Maslow outline his theory of motivation. However, human beings tend to avoid work it they can get these needs fulfilled in some other way - for example, inherits work, if they can get these needs fulfilled in some other way - for example, inherited wealth or caring parents.
Generally, the majority of people have to work even when they do not like it, as happens in the case of the narrator in the story, 'Action Will Be Taken’ . The narrator, performs some duties, physical, mental and verbal. As you can see, the narrator understands the need for using imperatives as a skill to survive in the workplace. He learns different kinds of expressions with appropriate tonal variations. He train himself even while travelling by a tramcar. Yet while in his job, he does not seems have any empathy for his co-workers or his job. Instead, he views them with what seems to be a form of humorous cynicism.
In some countries like Germany, China, India, Vietnam, etc., people tend to wort harder than usual to prove that they can do jobs more productively. The real motive is to earn more and more money to fulfill their family obligations. They can earn more only if they keep on acquiring more skills and qualifications, and not because they enjoy their jobs or feel a connection to what they do. Sadly, some of them like Alfred Wunsiedel, work themselves to death. The death of Wunsiedel bring about a positive change in the narrator's life. It happens to be an occasion for him showcase his natural talent of pensiveness and inactivity. Surprisingly, however, he gets the job of a professional mourner which suits his temperament and trait. At last he is happy to find a job that he does well and that suits his inclinations. He enjoys his new job and in fact goes above and beyond his job to provide things like wreaths and a mourner for people who can't afford a proper funeral, including the homeless. The moment the narrator becomes empathetic to Alfred Wunsiedel, he starts understanding life in a new light. He announces Wunsiedel's death to Broschek quietly and performs the job of carrying the wreath along the coffin appreciatively.
The moment he distances himself from his feeling of being stuck in a painful job, he realises his inner capacity. Empathy, though directed at another person, can, in fact, reward us our own lives meaningfully.
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