3 hours ago
3
Only just finished this, and I'm not the most well read person. But wanted to open a dialogue on people's interpretations of the takeaway from this book.
For me it was a terrifying cautionary tale of remaining idle in life, and squandering one's opportunities. Never actually starting on that career or that big project, or learning your dream skills. All due to some warped belief that you are ahead of the curve, and can see the meaninglessness in spending so much time dedicating yourself to something, being a "worker bee" in society, because you'll be too old when you are finally able to reap the rewards of the labour.
I actually feel that I've lived certain moments similar to that of the lead character, Anthony Patch's life, myself (but I'm not rich lol).
While both perspectives are included (Gloria's and Anthony's) in great detail, Anthony is obviously the lead character and focus.
As a man, Anthony’s story was particularly scary to read. I think this book would speak to many men in their 20s and 30s, as other commenters have suggested in other threads.
Anthony never did anything. He squandered all potential, simply due to a sense that “one day” he’d make something of himself when it was finally worth it.
He got the girl that everyone wanted, early and without much effort, and she truly loved him; which was almost impossible for a character like Gloria. She had so many options and such an independent, wonderful and vibrant character initially.
Once he had her he treated her terribly (particularly near the end, like taking the last pennies from her purse, squandering their last dollars for more alcohol when she was left in the house with no food).
He destroyed friendships out of his alcoholism and resentment.
For a man who began the story with some promise, intellect, obvious social and physical privilege, he fucked it all up entirely.
Page 282 “he had been futile in longing to drift and dream; no one drifted except to maelstroms, no one dreamed, without his dreams becoming fantastical nightmares of indecision and regret”
He ended up in a loop where he'd wasted so much time not working on making his dreams a reality, that he began to fear even dreaming at all as he felt he would simply waste his time anyway. So was stuck in constant regret and inaction, unable to break the cycle.
Then came the alcoholism... he turned to the drink big time, full blown alcoholic which eventually led him to psychosis and serious physical decline before he even turned 35.
I believe dot may have truly shown up in the end, I doubt he killed her though, as some others have suggested on other threads, but probably injured her and she fled. Only guessing considering she wasn’t there when Dick and Gloria got home. Figment of imagination is also possible, maybe even more likely, as in the very next scene he has clearly had a complete psychotic break.
He is last seen only 6 months after the inheritance/dot scene (so he’s like 34) now in a wheelchair, so I don’t know what happened there. Health, alcoholism? Anyone else have any ideas?
I only just finished it so I’ll have to think on it some more, but Jesus what a dark read.
Some people take an entirely different interpretation of the book, that society failed him and his nature, by trying to make him a “worker bee” when he was an intellect and kind of "artist" by nature (with his obsession with only living for beauty and aesthetics) but I truly think he simply put off acting on and doing something with his life...
On page 341:
Anthony to Dot: “I’ve often thought that if I hadn’t got what I wanted things might have been different with me. I might have found something in my mind and enjoyed putting it in circulation. I might have been content with the work of it, and had some sweet vanity out of the success.
I suppose that at one time I could’ve had anything I wanted, within reason, but that was the only thing I ever wanted with any fevor. god! And that taught me you can’t have anything, you can’t have anything at all. Because desire just cheats you.
It’s like a sunbeam skipping here and there about a room. It stops and gilds some inconsequential object, and we poor fools try to grasp it - but when we do the sunbeam moves on to something else, and you’ve got the inconsequential part, but the glitter that made you want it is gone-“
Anyone with big dreams (particularly in your 20s I guess) might find this to be a freaky read, and a warning for what can happen if you keep putting things off. Anyone who falls victim to desires, material, sexual etc. Anyone who experiences severe want for things, but struggles to come to terms with needing to actually WORK for them, may find this profound. Although like me, you likely don’t have 30m dollars (early 1900’s money) waiting for you at the end of the story to fall back on.
TLDR; A man with everything going for him, including generational wealth, intelligence, a beautful and devoted (although flawed) wife, squanders all of his potential due to being stuck in a psychological loop of having unfulfilled dreams, and then becoming too afraid to act or dream at all in the end. Drinks too much. Goes mad. Is rich in then end, but physically disabled and empty inside, without love or dreams left at all.
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