One of the problems when your life is a literary conceit …
… is that you maintain faith in the happy ending.
Even with all evidence to the contrary, even with a terrible track record years-long, when things line up perfectly (aka literary conceit) it seems apparent that things should “work out”.
This is not only insane, but an incorrect assumption about literature.
“Literary” does not = happy ending. Ever read Anna Karenina? Yeah, that book has one HELL of a happy ending, don’t it?
The fact that things line up doesn’t mean shit. It just means that things line up. It takes a certain sort of brain to perceive patterns, themes, and I have always had that kind of brain. My perpetual heartbreak comes from trying to turn the patterns into something meaningful. Or at least something I can grasp.
Sometimes the themes are so loud that they often seem to be screaming at me to pay attention. I have learned my lesson through years of practice. I take note of the literary conceit, tip my hat to it, acknowledging, “Yes, yes, hon, I see you, I see you, thank you very much,” and then I do my best to pass on by.
I don’t understand the term “literary conceit”, even after extensive Googling. It’s just not clicking with me. Can you explain it in terms I can understand (Well, I know you “CAN”, based on previous experience with your blog, but, would you?)
BTW, Am I the only one that has a mental block when it comes to some (many?)literary concepts or is this a common thing related to right brain vs. left brain thinking?
Sorry, JFH – I don’t really feel like getting into it with such a personal post.
I have gotten numerous emails from people who were touched by the post – who shared their own stories, who related … and a public venue isn’t the place for them to share that stuff. That’s cool by me. I am glad it resonated.
It’s for those people I wrote it.
To describe it in an analytical way would be wrong for me. To sit and discuss it in an intellectual way would be wrong for me. I described my experience and plenty of folks got it. For me, that’s enough.
Conceit:
5.an elaborate, fanciful metaphor, esp. of a strained or far-fetched nature.
6.the use of such metaphors as a literary characteristic, esp. in poetry.
Sheila, you’re one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met and I love you with all my heart, despite my deep, dark inability to sometimes let people in.
David – thanks for basically making me put up this post. It was very cathartic and you were spot on in your reasoning.
I had a rough week. I need to keep being open and keep writing. Thanks.
Rumspringa this week? thursday??
Actually, for two of its supporting characters (Kitty and Levin), it did. For the title character, of course, it didn’t.
I know that’s not the point you were trying to make, but still…
Tonio – yeah, that really wasn’t my point – you chose to miss the larger point and … not sure what you’re doing with that comment. Letting us know you read Anna K?
Congratulations?
A really important internet skill on the internet is knowing when NOT to comment.