 [Tin tức] Này bạn! Người học ngoại ngữ! Bạn có biết cách cải thiện kỹ năng ngôn ngữ của mình không❓ Tất cả những gì bạn cần làm là nhờ người bản ngữ sửa bài viết của mình! Với HiNative, bạn có thể nhờ người bản ngữ sửa bài viết của mình miễn phí ✍️✨. Đăng ký Hmm. I do not remember that part, but I will offer, "He who is not busy being born is busy dying," by Bob Dylan. Z.
Hi, I like the movie "Shawshank Redemption." In this movie, Morgan Freeman said "Get busy living, get busy dying." I like this phrase, but could someone tell me exactly what it means? And do people often use this phrase "get busy living" or "get busy dying"? Thank you!I also love this movie. My grandmother used to say something similar whenever one of her offspring was feeling sorry for him/herself. "You have two choices, you can have another birthday or not!"
Oh, this is one of my favourite films! The phrase is not used normally in English, it's not something that would normally be said although if it was, it would be understood in the right context (and probably be recognised by most film fans!) In the context of the film, it means that the newly-industrialised world they have been locked away from is moving too fast for the ex-convicts (Brooks and Red) and they both feel rushed and hurried in everything they do. they realise that time waits for nobody so they must either make the most of their situation or give up, i.e. live or die I hope that clarifies it a bit? v RyuSenior Member
Thank you, friends. Okay, I got the picture. And people would not normaly use it. Okay. But when they do, is it usually used in pairs, "get busy living, get busy dying," because it implicates two choices? What if I say "we are busy living"? Does it mean "make the most of your situation" or "live well" or "lead a full life"? Then, "busy dying" means "just lead a dull life, doing what you are told to do, or perhaps doing nothing, living off your parents, etc."? Your help is also appreciated.
no, we wouldn't normally say it- it was a phrase invented for the film! if it was said in normal conversation, it would be strange unless the speaker was actually quoting film. "get busy living or get busy dying", the key word here is "or" which implies the choice. the two choices give the phrase its force. the use of opposites to reinforce a point or finish an argument is a common tool in english. (ex: "do it or don't") "we are busy living" is just a statement, it has no impact and is not the same as "get busy living" which is an order/imperative. yes, you could also say "make the most of things". v
On this concept, There's a line in Waiting for Godot, by Beckett: 'We are born astride the grave'. There's no getting away from it, we are born, we die! His is a very extreme view! RyuSenior Member
veebs, thank you. veebs said: no, we wouldn't normally say it- it was a phrase invented for the film! if it was said in normal conversation, it would be strange unless the speaker was actually quoting film. I got it. I'll use the phrase as a quote from a movie, Shawshank Redemption, which, I'm sure, many Japanese know. But I like this phrase very much. Particular because the phrase puts me in mind of the story of the Shawshank. Also many thanks to Isotta, Suspensefullife and suzi br for your input. I got the picture of "busy dying, budy living."
Hi Guys, I think you're missing the point a little bit and it's based on the film at that point. You have to remember that Andy know's he's breaking out (although he doesn't know if he's going to make it, get caught, shot etc) and Red doesn't. When Red hears him say "It comes down to a simple choice; get busy living or get busy dying" he take's it Andy has decided to get busy dying - hence the panic when they find that Andy had borrowed 6' of rope and they suspect he intend on taking his own life. From Andy's point of view, he means that he's choosing to get busy living by breaking out and not living the "non" life he has in prison. It very similar to the phrase "Doing something is almost always better than doing nothing". Personally, I think of the quote when i'm having difficulty getting out of bed or when I'm unmotivated. We've all got to check out sooner or later and you can spend that time achieving things or just letting life pass you by.
My views on this would be quite similar to veeb's above. I agree with this...
In my opinion, this saying is far deeper than what you all are attributing to it. Much like the notion of the Buddha "waking up" from the "dream" and Christ being resurrected. The notion of "coming alive" or "waking up" to life is a common thread among many wisdom teachings. I'm not implying there was any religious implication in this movie, yet the application of the saying still holds true: most folks are "asleep" living but not LIVING. In a sense, dying slowly without purpose. We can easy go through life like this in a fog, never pursuing our true dreams or talents or seeking out the true meaning of our lives. Morgan Freeman's character at the end of the movie was not doing to well. He was out of prison, but his life was a fog of fear and nothingness. To me, this saying indicates the "waking up" and pushing life to it's fullest, which is when he decided to go seek out his friend Andy Dufresne, off on some tropical island.
This isn't a quote that was "created" for this movie. This quote is a summary of a W.H. Auden quote; "If we really want to love, we'd better start at once to try: If we don't it doesn't matter, but we'd better start to die." In a much more limited sense, it's essentially telling you to start living your life, or prepare for your death. You can only do one or the other in life. In the context of the movie, to "get busy living" is to get away from the stagnant life of prison and, instead of merely existing, move to living, to a vibrant life. To "get busy dying" is to stay in that world and be ready for the dull, empty presence that is the life they were leading, only to eventually die and never again experience anything great that life has to offer. |
