Faithfulness to the past can be a kind of death above ground. Writing of the past is a resurrection; the past then lives in your words and you are free.

In this quote, "Faithfulness to the past can be a kind of death above ground. Writing of the past is a resurrection; the past then lives in your words and you are free," Jessamyn West explores the tension between being bound by the past and engaging with it creatively. West suggests that merely adhering to the past without understanding or reinterpreting it can feel like a form of stagnation, a kind of death where one is unable to move forward. In contrast, writing about the past allows it to be revitalized and given new life, offering the writer a form of freedom from the constraints of uncritical reverence for history.

The concept of the past living through writing highlights how creative expression enables an individual to reinterpret, analyze, and even challenge historical narratives. Writing transforms the past into a dynamic, living thing that resonates in the present, rather than allowing it to become a static, unchangeable force. In this way, writing serves as a resurrection—a means of bringing something back to life and allowing it to influence the future in meaningful ways.

Jessamyn West, an American author and novelist, is known for her reflections on the human condition and the role of history in shaping our present. Her statement speaks to her understanding of the creative process, particularly how writing can serve as a vehicle for understanding and reinterpreting the past. In her view, the act of writing not only preserves the past but also liberates it from the weight of rigid, unquestioned tradition.

Ultimately, West's quote underscores the idea that writing is a transformative process that allows the past to live again in a new light, offering both the writer and the reader a chance for freedom and growth. By engaging with history through creativity, one can find liberation from being shackled to it, instead breathing new life into the old and making it relevant to the present.