But he is keenly aware that this is an “impossible way of life” and a “stupid sense of compassion” that removes personal responsibility and allows people to continue their immoral acts unhindered. Sometimes people need a “kick in the ass” to change. Such criticism is voiced (mainly) by the French inventor, and the “love triangle” between him, Boone, and Gilles drives much of the plot.
master complexity
Neither opinion prevails, either in Sanders’ head or on paper. His aim was to express the two competing philosophies as accurately and convincingly as possible and to “keep them floating there.” His approach is reminiscent of John Keats’s definition of “negative capabilities.” It is the ability to “exist in uncertainty, mystery, and doubt without becoming frustrated by facts and reasons.” Keats argued that this made great writers like Shakespeare stand out.
Sanders agrees that this is “the essence of what art can do for us.” “Normally I don’t have time to think about such nonsense. But reading The Masters reminds me of how quickly I judge too much. The world is so much bigger than my ability to understand, yet I always act as if I understand it 100%,” he added. “For me, it’s kind of a sacrament to just take a few hours a day and think, ‘Oh, my real life self is a little flawed.'” Writing this way, he says, was a step out of his comfort zone. “Most of my other work doesn’t land in an obscure place.”
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Like Lincoln in The Bardo, Vigil was influenced by Saunders’ Buddhist beliefs, including his belief in the need to transcend the ego and let go of earthly desires. This provides some of the most moving parts of the new novel, as Jill briefly descends from her “high” state and grapples with unfinished business in her physical life.
Source: BBC Culture – www.bbc.com
