Introduction
Ethical relations became the core problems of the modern world as the increase of educated people leads to the rise of the morality and improvements of the relations. The interconnection of education and ethics in the society is objective as knowledge is the power, which gives people understanding of good and bad, right and wrong, and educated person se it and tries to conduct in order to show its good behavior and scope of knowledge. The problems of ethics and morality are arose in lots of books, but reading Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith every situation seems to depict the moral issue and to show a reader the moral and ethical consequences in the contrast to the bad actions, which usually occur in real life situations.
The situation with the unfaithful wife
The family life is difficult and complicated by lots of reasons, one of which is that people, living on one territory as always cope with each other and consider the problems together, trying to smooth them as much as possible. Family life is the constant work, and when one of the partners is tired of the other, the difficulties may appear, and in future may overgrow in serious conflicts. The family problem, introduced in the discussed book, is the situation with the unfaithful wife. The situation was that butcher’s wife cheated her husband tilling him that the son, they were upbringing is his. The truth comes out (this is the usual affair, as hidden always appears to be clear) and her husbands gets to know that the real father of the boy is the other man, who pays for his education. Mma Ramotswe comments the situation as follows, “Remember that for every cheating wife in Botswana there are five hundred and fifty cheating husbands” (Smith, 2000, p. 136).
Book and real world interrelation in the situation with unfaithful wife
Cheating and betrayal of husbands and wives are the main problems in the modern society, as people cannot use to the fact that faithfulness is the main rule in the ethics of life and people should keep relations they have in order not to suffer in future. The relations, started with cheat, will never have successful and happy development as truth has the quality to be discovered in the most impropriate time. Living in the modern world, the similar situations are faced often, and the consequences are terrible: husbands usually leave and wives begin to regret that they did not tell the truth at once. Having following the ethical rules at once, the dramatic consequence could have been avoid and the man could have forgive and stay with the wife.
The desire to harm usually leads to controversial effect and vice versa
The case, which usually occurs in life and is introduced in the book, is when people want to harm, but in conclusion, they are captured in their own gap. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni’s maid did not want his master to marry Mma Ramotswe and tried different activities in order to spoil their life, but is the end of the situation, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni and Mma Ramotswe will get married anyway, and main is left aside, resentful and outraged as the laws of the life are that people usually receive according to their actions. The offer of the home to Motholeli and Puso is the good activity which was supported by Mma Ramotswe as good actions will be gifted. Doing good actions people feel relief and satisfaction, and the book teaches what people should do in order to be delighted.
Ethics and morality in the book and its correspondence to real life
Morality fulfills the whole book and even in the case with the University professor, the ethics is on the highest level of consideration. Lying is the biggest sin, and bluffs are always captured. The situation with the professor is similar to the butcher’s wife, as the similar ethic rule is taken into account. Reading the book the only idea is in mind, that all the situations as if written from the life and people should think hard before providing some decision or conducting some actions. The author implements all his ideas about morality through the main character and Mma Ramotswe carefully tries to implement the idea that morality is one for everybody and the situations may be different, but still ethics and morality should be placed on the highest level. Feeling the responsibility for people who turn to her is the moral feeling, which should be supported in everyone. According to Mma Ramotswe’s opinion, if people turn for help, your responsibility is to help at least them as it is impossible to help everybody. The idea is supported by the housemother of the orphanage, “We must look after other people…. Other people are our brothers and sisters. If they are unhappy, then we are unhappy. If they are hungry, then we are hungry” (Smith, 2002, p. 122)
Comprising all the situations in the book, it may be said that Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith is the book about ethics and morality and what conclusion people may make from the unmoral and wrong situations. The case with American woman’s son is also educative. The incident was hidden and this fact may never be called morally valid and the fear is not the reason to hide the truth. The mother was looking for her son, dreaming that he had disappeared and waited for him every minute. The grief she could have suffered knowing that it was an accident and having buried him is incomparable with the grief she was suffering for ten years, hoping for his coming and seeing her. All the cases, introduced in the book have the moral and ethical value, and people should read this book not as the funny detective story, but as the guide for ethical actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the problems of ethics and morality are arose in lots of books, but reading Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith every situation seems to depict the moral issue and to show a reader the moral and ethical consequences in the contrast to the bad actions, which usually occur in real life situations. Most of the phrases, said by the main character, Mma Ramotswe, are true, and people should follow them. Not only phrases are valid but also actions, which are also introduced in the book. The example of Motholeli and Puso are the most significant as it is rather difficult step to take children from orphanage. Ethics in real life is valued, those who was said a good word or supported in the difficult time will surely respond by the same. The whole world is structured on the principles of morality and ethics, and the books, like discussed, are the main confirmation of the world’s correct direction and proof that people understand the value of moral principles and tend to it.
References
Smith, A. M. (2000). Tears of the Giraffe. Anchor, New York.