Whenever I think of something to blog...I just go to google.. and put in some words... and search for links....that I think are worthwile. Today...I came up with this nice short story.... very well written one... by W Somerset Maugham. You can read it by clicking on the title.
However, the reason I came across the story was because I was searching for the words "Mr. Know All". Hmm.. If you have been following my blog, you may know that I have come to respect and admire Herman Hesse. So, I got a book containing short stories written by him during his lifetime. One such story is "The Marble Works". It is a love story...written in the first person. Well.. it begins with the narrator enjoying a 2 month vacation lazing away in the countryside. He is a 24 year old guy. And this one sentence he said struck me.
"I looked on benevolently, and approved the joy of the children, peasants and young girls with all my heart, confident that I understood these people through and through".
And yet.... by the end of the book... he sort of appears to not have understood them at all. Well, the reason this struck me was because, of late, I have had this feeling too. Of being happy for no reason. Of falling in love with the world. And I have been feeling that all is right with the world because I understand it all. Thats why I post this blog the way I do. And thats why my mom keeps telling me I shouldnt be so sure.... as somehow, I may reveal my vulnerabilities which may result in be getting hurt. Something which I feel cannot happen. As I will understand the reason why someone will do it.. and ensure that I dont have that failing!! But wait... wasnt that what the narrator felt too?? Hmmm.... especially since I have felt such a close bond with Herman Hesse and his writings. Books like his Siddhartha have captivated me for they put into words...what I know in my heart.
Maybe I am reading too much into this story. But...I wonder... am I as infallible as I think I am? Am I as happy as I think I am? Gah.. thats too much thinking and I am in no mood to do that. Especially as I have had only 2.5 hrs of sleep as I was working to fix my blog which wasnt working properly in Internet Explorer!!!
And..oh yes.... I now have a tag board that u can use to post messages for me. And a Google search bar too.. (though my blog isnt archived as much as I want it to be).
Take care people... and be well:)
Mohan.
No comments:
Post a Comment