Why would you even ask that?

This is a tough question and Gabrielle Roy didnt make it easy to answer. The situation that these characters had to live through was really devasting for most of them, and unless they were in a situation like Emmanuel, there really wasnt much of a choice. For Emmanuel, it was more of a spirit choice; he went to war out of a political view and not for the money. For Eugene and Azarius it was definitely to get away and better themselves and help the family; wealth was definitely a priority, but i also think it was a mean of escape and freedom. But again, there wasnt much of a choice. Emmanuel could have stayed home and had a family and a good job, but his choice was to go to war. I feel like i'm running circles around what im trying to say, but hopefully you can all understand what im trying to say.

I would argue that all the characters joined up with the war effort for selfish reasons. For Eugene and Azarius there was the added and noble bonus of being put in a position to assist their family- but that was not a position that was always taken advantage of as we see Eugene "borrow" the $10 from his mother. The motivation for both was escape, and I think that such an escape is what saved them both in a spiritual sense, I don't think that their ability to dream and hope and even love could have survived in the circumstances in which they were living.
I also believe that Emmanuel enlisted in a selfish manner in some ways. I think he is a character that is always trying to compensate for something about his identity. He cannot claim a life of struggle the way those around him can- I think he feels the need to have something in his life that really requires something of him. He needs to feel needed- probably a reason he is so drawn to Florentine. The war is a way for him to exert his masculinity, set himself apart from his family, as well as having a sense of achievement in his life.
In the end I suppose that would mean that these men are sacrificing neither wealth nor spirit, but are in fact augmenting both. This reality does not make it any less sad that they are enlisting in an effort that has the potential to kill them and they find it preferable to their current standard of living.

I believe that Eugene and Azarius joined the war effort for purely selfish motives. I believe that they had nothing really holding them at home besides family which apparently did not matter that much to them. For Azarius he did not even care if he lost his job- the sake of his family was at stake, yet it still did not matter to him. Azarius went for the money, for the glory, he went for reasons to cure his boredom with his pitiful life at home. Eugene went for selfish reasons as well. Eugene was greedy, he wanted money and that was his bottom line. He took $10 away from his mother. Even though he felt some guilt it still did not stop him from taking that money from his mother who honestly needed it to feed her family and pay the bills with. Eugene did not care, he was selfish and went to war because of his selfishness and vain attitude. Emmanuel on the other hand, I believe went to war because of his political views. But, I do agree that there was some selfish motive to go as well. He could have stayed and had a family and gotten a job but instead he decided to go to war for the boost in his own self-image. Going to war gave him some real purpose in life, it defined him as a man going to war, him being a real grown up man. It is hard to say whether Emmanuel went to war for selfish reasons or for real reasons-politics and beliefs. Gabrielle Roy makes us, as readers question the motives of the characters in her novel. Each character is deeply complex and hard to identify with. Yet, that is why I think this book is so refreshing because Roy makes us really read and think about the lives of these characters.

What was the most frustrating aspect for me was the fact that both Azarius and Eugene (but specifically Azarius)disguised his true motives for going to war. He claimed it was the best way to provide for his family, due to the finincial benefits it would provide, while in fact the best thing he could have done would be to stay home and provide emotional stabilty. While it was obvious that this family was in severe financial distress, the absence of a stable male figure in the lives of the children was more of a detriment to their growth than lack of money.
Azarius seemed to have even convinced himself that his reasoning was unselfish, that he was purely concerned with providing for his family. Us as readers can tell this is far from the truth. War was the escape he had been looking for.

While seraching for this "eternal human enigma" I think the most of the characters, especially Azarius, ultimately sacrifice both spirit and wealth. Part of the reason is selfishness, but I think many fail to see wealth as Rose-Anna does, that has a non-monitary value. Many of the characters are so fixated on money because they think that it will give them spirit, and they don't have it. In their attempts to make money, they overlook richness in other arenas that they could consider themself wealthy in,for Azarius, that is family. I think this is the answer Roy is getting at - She not only portrays the harsh reality of poverty, she also reveals the common misconception it creates, that all types of wealth is determined by dollars.

I think individuals join the army for a whole host of reasons; economic, ideological, a chance to escape, etc. I don't think it is necessarily the dichotomy of wealth vs. spirit, as Roy puts it.

I think the main culprit in this question is the war itself. World War II was not a fight against fascism, nor was it "the good war." The "Four Policeman"- US, Britian, France, and Russia cared little about democracy, but more about expanding control over the globe. Germany and Japan were at the same time struggling to create their own mini-empires- and all clashed, killing over 55 million people.

The US could not have been protecting democracy, for it did not allow equal rights for Blacks or Japanese-Americans. Secondly, it refused to allow Jewish refugees into the country. And the US refused to bomb the train tracks leading to Aushwitz- even though they flew over them to bomb factories. Lastly, the US resurrected Nazi war criminals to help run Germany. Good books are While Six Million Died by Arthur Morse and The Myth of the Good War by Jacques Pauwles.

I write this because when one talks about "spirit" vs. wealth, the excuses around the war are very different than it's reality. And so Emmanuel believed in the ideas that were used- that it was a fight of democracy vs. fascism.
Yet the starkness and lack of humane conditions for the Lacasse family conflicts with the call to "spread democracy."

I think the talk of spirit is really to keep struggling to survive against all odds- Florentine has it, Rose Anna, and certainly Azarius, in his optomistic way. Emmanuel, who does not face such dire conditions has it, in his belief that the war is just.

This issue is a major aspect in this novel; most of the characters deal with it. Roy shows characters taking on to both sides of the argument, with reference to Emmanuel and Azarius. Azarius is a naive character, and so his decision to go war on a selfish basis does not surprise me. He is naive with his decision because he doesn't even realize what could happen to his family if he dies. It is also a hard point to argue because Roy illustrates the type of people who go to war because they have no other options. Roy also illustrates the other type of character who goes to war because they believe in the cause of war and that it will change things (Emmanuel). But also you could look at it that Emmanuel had money so maybe he didnt have to even think of the war as a selfish "way out" of his circumstances, like Azarius had to. This novel illustrates both points.
Some people might be skeptical of both characters. Azarius did it for selfish reasons, and Emmanuel did it for the cause, or did he do it to try and prove something to himself? Or maybe prove something to Florentine? You could look at it in either light, and I think that both lights are right, both characters could have been being selfish, but maybe they weren't. I dont want to have to admit that money would be a factor in this type of decision but it was, thats what the entire novel is about - social realism.
If it was me, I would pick spirit over wealth. Because if you already have wealth, you probably can not get spirit, but if you already have spirit, you may get to work up to getting wealth. But if not, you will always have your spirit, which is a lot more stable asset than wealth, and in my opinion a lot more precious.

This issue of the "eternal human enigma" can be seen in all of the characters in Roy's "The Tin Flute". Azarius's purpose for entering the war is for ultimatley selfish reasons. He was constantly dissatisfied with the many jobs he had had and entering the war is not only his chance to make money and become somewhat successful, but it is also his ticket to freedom. He doesn't stop to think about the position he is leaving the rest of his family in. In thinking about this issue with Azarius, the other perspective arises in Rose-Anna. She is the person who keeps the family together, and for her, the family is the wealth; that is whats most important to her.
Emanuel on the other hand, entered the war for very different reasons than Azarius did. Emanuel felt passionate about the cause and wanted to uphold is political stance. I do think in combination with that, he also decided to go off to war to boost his self confidence; he wanted to feel like he was needed, and going to war made him feel important and that he was making something of himself.
I think that in the end, both men went to war as part of their reasoning being for their personal agenda. Roy makes us think about the different forms that wealth can be seen in. Its not only physical money; the human spirit in my opinion is probably one of the greatest forms of wealth an individual can have. So I guess I am saying that I would choose to hold a strong human spirit rather than endless amounts of wealth.

First, I will say that I most agree with the comments posted by Sara S. and Dede. As a reader I am disappointed by Azarus' action of going to war, because he leaves his family as an easy escape from their suffering. It is hard to respect his character as I feel there is more he could be doing at home to help support his family. However, it must have been frusterating for Azarus to not be able to find work within his trade.
In response to the second question, I would personally also hope to choose spirit over wealth. Simply, hard work and persistence often lead people to success and financial stability. (At the same time, it is hard for me to imagine living both during a time of war and in such poverty as in The Tin Flute.) However, spirit is something which truly shapes your identity and character.

First I would like to say that I was disapointed by the actions of Azarius at the end of the book. I feel that Azarius left for purely selfish reasons unlike Emmanuel and Eugene who actually wanted to fight for their country. Joining the army to get away from his home is a horrible reason to leave his family to fend for themselves.

I also would choose spirit over wealth. It doesn't matter how well off you are if you're not happy. Though wealth does bring happiness to some, if not most, this was not realistic during this time period that the Tin Flute takes place. I agree with Lynn, spirit which can, and does shape your identity and character.

I agree with most of you in reguards to Azarius leaving his family and being seen as a coward.

I also feel that if someone enables themselves to h ave good spirits as a trait they are much better off than being wealthy. Money comes and goes-- having a strong support system around you is what makes all the difference.

As Henry David Thoreau said:

"Wealth is the ability to fully experience life."

(Better late than never!)
It is really interesting to see some of the posts dealing with Azarius' decision to go to war. At first it may seem that he copped out of all of his responsibility at home, not providing emotional or financial stability (prior to, during and after his decision to go to war), however, I'd like to ask if anyone thinks if he had stayed at home he would have experienced an epiphony and miraculously decided to work as a taxi driver, anything at all to provide for his family? My answer to this question is, not likely. I would even go as far to say that he and Emanuel both decided to go to war based on spirit, or lack there of. Emanuel's decision seems more selfish because it was based on what he perceived his self image to be(come). Azarius on the other hand was facing a life plagued by diminishing spirits except for the endless efforts of Florentine. At this point in his life I think he made the best decision for himself and his family. Instead of sitting around and/or making more babies he would be unable to provide for, he decided to at least provide for his family financially. Azarius is lucky to have experienced spirit and wealth and not at the expense of losing either one. Seemingly pessimistic, perhaps his family was better with out him at home.

Though it is rather pessimistic, I agree a lot with what Katy had motioned earlier in her comment that most of the characters ultimately sacrifice both wealth and spirit. In some ways it seems that there is an absence of unrestricted free will to make a conscious decision to sacrifice one or the other as the setting and societal issues have a direct impact on what the characters value. The general failure of the characters to experience the needs of their spirit is a result of their inability to separate their true emotional desires from their rational conscience that requires security from another person. The latter meaning wealth for most of the character and because of this it seems that Roy questions the capacity of people to separate the two (spirit and wealth) in the context of WWII era urban poverty and realize what it is they should be sacrificing. As for the second part of the question I’d like to say I would sacrifice wealth for the spirit but that notion seems kind of idealistic at this point.

The Tin flute does provide an answer to the eternal human dilemma. It tells us that the answer depends on the person who is faced with the dilemma. Florentine for example was not someone who could have lived without money. Even if she did not spend the night with Jean Levesque, which in a sense hastened her decision to say yes to Emmanuel,she would have married Emmanuel. She would not have waited for true love to happen to her again. Take any other character for that matter. The only one who really faces the dilemma is Rose Ann. But for her also the answer is quite clear cut.She believes that spirit is more important than wealth. The only problem is that she has to take the burden of this belief all by herself. For her, her spirit is her family and they do not share the same belief and do not value her for her sacrifices to keep the family together. The feeling of poverty is not allayed by all members of the family, especially her husband in whom she is most disappointed. And still she is hurt when he enlists. Her family is not willing to make the sacrifices to pursue spirit over wealth, She has to choose and this is her dilemma imposed by other people and and situations.

The Tin flute does provide an answer to the eternal human dilemma. It tells us that the answer depends on the person who is faced with the dilemma. Florentine for example was not someone who could have lived without money. Even if she did not spend the night with Jean Levesque, which in a sense hastened her decision to say yes to Emmanuel,she would have married Emmanuel. She would not have waited for true love to happen to her again. Take any other character for that matter. The only one who really faces the dilemma is Rose Ann. But for her also the answer is quite clear cut.She believes that spirit is more important than wealth. The only problem is that she has to take the burden of this belief all by herself. For her, her spirit is her family and they do not share the same belief and do not value her for her sacrifices to keep the family together. The feeling of poverty is not allayed by all members of the family, especially her husband in whom she is most disappointed. And still she is hurt when he enlists. Her family is not willing to make the sacrifices to pursue spirit over wealth, She has to choose and this is her dilemma imposed by other people and and situations.