There was a point in my life when I thought all novels were about the individual oppressed society. I think that it had something to do with being a teenager and incapable of seeing the world other than through my own lens. But there's something in that.
Actually, some books--not the most interesting books--deal exclusively with that question. I'm thinking of the teenage boy authors--Conrad, Keruac.
But the more interesting question concerning rebellion against societal norms is "is it a good thing?"
Although I've been kicking against the way things are for a good 20 years now, I'm not sure it changes things or makes me a better person. There is something intellectually dishonest about revolution and rebellion. I think most people who make a pattern out of it fail to admit that they are, in fact, a part of society and that they do, in fact, need other people.
2 comments:
You just like to rebel against the rebels--counter Kerouac with anti-Kerouackain ex-pat ennui. Yeah yeah, yeah. If you had some opium then maybe we could really have something sublime to contemplate.
Well, I do like Greene and he does do a fabulous opium scene. I guess what I'm really looking for is productive efficient rebellion or maybe some girl rebels.
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