wisdom again
Alex Rumford (RumAJF-U@hhs.bham.ac.uk)
Tue, 25 May 1999 12:05:19 +0000 (GMT)
what's the point in knowledge/ wisdom/ genius etc. if youre not happy
or, as a result of them, cant face up to the reality of life outside
book and theory? isnt there a little suggestion that ignorance is
bliss in the stories since few of those blessed with brains are
socially able, or their wisdom leads them to disillusionment? (a kind
of perverted ideal of the end product of wisdom) sure, franny
realises through her brother that we have to accept imperfections,
and do goodwill for the sake of goodwill etc. but
1. seymour didnt seem to ever reconcile wisdom and happiness (and he
was allegedly the smartest)
2. zooey (who realised that everyone is the fat lady) is still a bit
of a patronising arse despite what he says. he says he cant hold
conversations etc with people, and bessie accuses him of cruelty to
those who aspire to knowledge.
so are these people freaks or depressives because of their wisdom,
as opposed to the overwhelmingly happy people we might expect to see
victims, or is it the case that the fact of their wisdom has made
them celebrities and outsiders which, in turn, makes them freaks? as
a result of their intelligence they have been singled out (see
carpenters when seymour is vehemently defended by his brother) and
thus are societal misfits of a kind. pah! im happy being thick and
sitting in the pub rather than analysing everything and being
regarded as a freaky prodigy.