Thursday, July 7, 2011

emotions aren't covered by single words.

emotions in my experience aren't covered by single words. I don't believe in "sadness", "joy", or "regret". maybe the best proof of that the language is patriarchal is that is oversimplifies feeling. I'd like to have at my disposal complicated hybrid emotions, Germanic train car constructions like, say, "the happiness the attends disaster." or "the disappointment of sleeping with one's fantasy." I'd like to show how "imitations of mortality brought on by aging family members" connects with the "the hatred of mirrors that begins in middle age." I'd like to have a word for "the sadness inspired by failing restaurants" as well as "the excitement of getting a room with a minibar." I've never never had the right words to my life, and now that I have entered my story, I need them more than ever.

thank you jefrey eugenides author of middlesex.

1 comment:

  1. i have that book lying around my house and have been debating reading it! i shall pick it up after reading this

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