Why Bother? (essay) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

He opposes this to the considerable history of American literary protagonists who, though solitary, bedevil been noteworthy as exemplars of American freedom including Huckleberry Finn. hazelnut Motes. and Tyrone S mess hallhrop. Franzen suggests that the writing that shares the to the highest degree political style and aesthetic lordliness would embody the value of expressive language. and goading the packer to step beyond appearances. He believes twain value to be features of juvenile literary productions as soundly as western classics much(prenominal) as Oedipus Rex . exclusively finding fresh literature some effective in its sad confrontation to modern optimism. Franzen more(prenominal)over defends the notion of literature as deject by Flannery OConnor s saying that frequent bother for the other by reading marks, in fact, the absence of clinical depression. Franzen withal notes that darn America has forever been at least(prenominal) in part, controlle d by oppressive commerce, it has also had its victim-conquerors such as Herman Melville. who worked in cattiness of mental unwellness to deliver classless art. Franzen concludes recounting his epiph whatsoever at organism once more able to read and write with a new intelligence of sociable responsibility. He advocates the possibility of tragic realism as containing potential for social change. Around this time, he also receives own(prenominal) correspondence from dress DeLillo encouraging him in the path of writing as both personal freedom, with thealbeit weakpotential of ever-changing culture in solitude as a changeless gift to writers. \nReception. In the introduction to the test collection How to Be entirely . Franzen notes that he was frequently asked virtually the essay in interviews, and that may have aroused more interest than any of his fictional works. In a reassessment of How to Be Alone for the AV fellowship . Andy Battaglia called Franzens conclusions a lot mor e inspiriting than might be expected, and give that the collection of essays was do far more interesting by both Franzens modulate of anxiety, as well as the controversies adjoin The Corrections being selected for Oprahs Book Club.