Ironically we see many prominent Republican women and even Republican men carve their faces up in a grotesque attempt to recapture their youth (known as “Mar a Lago Face” yet they think it’s just too offensive for people to voluntarily undergo medical interventions if it changes their apparent gender.
Ultimately these people aren’t even about “make sure everyone conforms to a norm” (as sticking with the face that age has given them is not a constraint that they’ll obey) but “I am unhappy and resentful and want to punish others in my nihilism.” It’d be a mistake to call them hypocrites because hypocrites at least have some principle that they’re betraying. These people use principles as cudgels against those who try to live by their own.
Bad enough to live among such hateful people, but worse when such people are foolishly given power.
Along with the other episode where the avid reader had all the time in the world to read but had no glasses this episode is also well remembered. Great post today SER. As usual I should say!
Thank you for this analysis of one of the best known TZ episodes. I have always thought that the ending was bittersweet because Janet didn't get what she wanted, but got what she needed. However, I never took into account that while the people in the village she was banished to (because that's what it was) would accept her and welcome her, that she would still endure discrimination from the "In" group, and suffer, like those in her village. Also, I never took into account that those in the "In" group may some day find themselves in an "Out" group.
Ironically we see many prominent Republican women and even Republican men carve their faces up in a grotesque attempt to recapture their youth (known as “Mar a Lago Face” yet they think it’s just too offensive for people to voluntarily undergo medical interventions if it changes their apparent gender.
Ultimately these people aren’t even about “make sure everyone conforms to a norm” (as sticking with the face that age has given them is not a constraint that they’ll obey) but “I am unhappy and resentful and want to punish others in my nihilism.” It’d be a mistake to call them hypocrites because hypocrites at least have some principle that they’re betraying. These people use principles as cudgels against those who try to live by their own.
Bad enough to live among such hateful people, but worse when such people are foolishly given power.
Along with the other episode where the avid reader had all the time in the world to read but had no glasses this episode is also well remembered. Great post today SER. As usual I should say!
Happy New Year to all here.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for this analysis of one of the best known TZ episodes. I have always thought that the ending was bittersweet because Janet didn't get what she wanted, but got what she needed. However, I never took into account that while the people in the village she was banished to (because that's what it was) would accept her and welcome her, that she would still endure discrimination from the "In" group, and suffer, like those in her village. Also, I never took into account that those in the "In" group may some day find themselves in an "Out" group.
Thank you for this wonderful article! Happy Year (New) to you and your family!
excellent analysis of this wrenching cry from 1960, thank you Stephen, and a Happy New Year to you and yours!