Interweaving Highways
The Tales embodies multiple interweaving themes and arcs. In factual books there is usually a single linear theme. In fictional work there can be several interweaving themes with a sub-plot here and there, but it is rare to have more than three interweaving themes.
A good example of three interweaving fictional themes is provided by Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where the action passes between the dispute among the fairies, between Oberon and Titania, the encounters between the four “lovers” who enter the forest and the villagers (the mechanicals) who are rehearsing a play to perform at the court. These themes intersect and ultimately they all resolve happily.
The Tales can’t be classified as a work of fact or fiction as it is a hybrid of both. And remarkably there are many more themes than you are likely to find in any other work. We believe it is worth enumerating and describing all these themes here, with reference to the list of contents.
Direct Teaching: The Preface pages, Chapters 1, The Arousing of Thought, and Chapter 48, From The Author are direct teaching by Gurdjieff partly prepare the reader for reading the book. This is supplemented at various points throughout.
Beelzebub’s misbehavior, Exile and Redemption: This is one of the major themes of the first series, beginning in Chapter 2 and supplemented in many chapters that explain how Beelzebub redeemed himself until, in Chapter 47, The Inevitable Result of Impartial Mentation, is fully redeemed and perfected.
Mullah Nassr Eddin’s Teaching. In many places throughout the first series, Mullah Nassr Eddin offers words of wisdom. These can be viewed as the observations of an impartial witness. This is similar if not identical to the role of the fool in some of Shakespeares plays.
Beelzebub’s Tales to Hassein. This theme is set up in Chapter 3, The Cause of the Delay in the Falling of the Ship Karnak – a justification is given for Beelzebub to begin his education of Hassein, and this continues in the many chapters that describe Beelzebub’s visits to Earth, his interactions with Gornahoor Harharkh and with Angels and Archangels.
The Journey of the Karnak. The journey of the Karnak proceeds initially from Beelzebub’s home planet, Karatas, for Beelzebub to attend a conference and then return. The action on the Karnak is referred to in various chapters. The final event is described in Chapter 47, The Inevitable Result of Impartial Mentation.
The Heavenly Realm. Incidentally at various times, we encounter the appearances, actions and explanations of various high individuals; angels, archangels, cherubim and seraphim.
The History of Mankind. The history of mankind is told from Atlantis Chapter 15, The First Descent of Beelzebub upon the Planet Earth up to the present day. There is much in this that is allegorical to the point, where it could also be viewed as depicted the life of a single man.
Messengers from Above. Ashiata Shiemash (Chapters 25, 26, and 27) occupies the central role among all the mentioned messengers sent from above, but others are also discussed. This theme complements the theme of the descent of mankind.
Kundabuffer and The Descent of Mankind: The primary difficulty for humanity is depicted as being a result of an error (the implanting of Kundabuffer) on the part of a commission of Archangels. Strongly associated with this are the behavior of various Hasnamuss individuals, which could be the subject of a study in its own right.
Beelzebub’s Sojourns. The sojourns tell stories of their own. We can examine what prompted each sojourn (Chapters 15, 19 – 24, 31) and how Beelzebub interfered in the affairs of men or simply observed them.
Gurdjieff’s Travels: It will likely be noticed by the reader that Beelzebub’s path on his sixth sojourn roughly follows Gurdjieff’s path from central Asia through Russia, Germany and France and finally to America.
Transspace Ships. This particular area of study involves considering the meaning of the various forms of transport which can be viewed allegorically as various changes of state, or means of self-observation. Connected with this are Beelzebub’s various activities on Saturn and Mars.
HIS ENDLESSNESS and The Creation. Chapter 39, The Holy Planet “Purgatory,” contains the primary description of the creation, depicting its origin as being a struggle between The Heropass and HIS ENDLESSNESS. This sets up a cosmology which can be taken as the foundation of Objective Science.
Objective Science. There are many references throughout The Tales to aspects of Objective Science. It starts in Chapters 4, 5 and 6, the last of which seems to be a description of the Enneagram. At many places the laws of Heptaparaparshinokh and Triamazikamno are described, and the concept of the Trogoautoegocrat is introduced. Okidanokh is also described and discussed.
How Should Men Live? Beelzebub sees the prevalence of war (reciprocal destruction) and man’s use of electricity, as central problems for man that need to be resolved. Beelzebub’s final words could be regarded as his suggested solution.
How to Work on Oneself. At various points important ideas about the physical and psychic life of man are elucidated and helpful advice is provided.