Chapter 7/10

Reason and Emotion

Another fundamental–essential–element of good thinking is the dialectical bipolar tension between reason and emotion. As in all true bipolar relations, neither of these, taken by itself, is valid. Good thinking exists only in the tension between the two. And there is no magic balance. Sometimes it is primarily emotion that powers good thinking; on other occasions reason rides in the driver’s seat. In either case, the other is consulted and taken seriously. Considerate thinking finds its place all along the spectrum between the two poles.

The movie, Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner? , draws its power from the tension of racism in conflict with love. Matt Drayton (Spencer Tracy) and Mr. Prentice (Roy Glenn) are convinced that their beloved children, “Joey” Drayton (Katharine Houghton) and Dr. John Prentice (Sidney Poitier) have lost their minds. The fathers are totally convinced that this interracial marriage would be a horrible mistake. They can think only of all the potential problems that would accrue were the marriage to take place. The situation comes to an impasse, until, finally, Mrs. Prentice (Beah Richards) confronts the two “old” men.

She speaks to their feelings, which she says have dried up long ago. She rebukes them for having forgotten what it is like to be young and deeply committed, as this young couple is. Her pain-laden challenge wakens Drayton’s heart and mind. Now he understands the situation as a whole, and in an impassioned speech, pours out the love and commitment to his wife that has not diminished across long years of marriage. The issue is resolved. The marriage receives the blessing of both parents.

Only as love’s emotion arises in antithesis to racism’s reason can any of them think clearly and thus see beyond their preconceived ways of thinking.