Sunday, August 24, 2014
"Without literature, life is hell" - Charles Bukowski, relating to The Elegance of the Hedgehog
The quote "without literature, life is hell" by Charles Bukowski applies to Renée's life in The Elegance of the Hedgehog. She has "read history, philosophy, economics, sociology, psychology, pedagogy, psychoanalysis, and, of course— above all— literature" to escape from her boring life (Barbery 71). Renée is a concierge in a Parisian luxury apartment building where she feels that she must hide worldly intelligence and love of literature to fit the mold as a stereotypical culturally oblivious, stumpy concierge. When Renée feels lonely, which she often does, she takes "a trip to the realm of literary memory" and is instantly transported pre-1910 Russia (122). As a widow with only one friend, Renée relies on literature for company and comfort. Renée is a true autodidact who has become far more intelligent than the highly-educated elite that live in her building. Nevertheless, she serves them dutifully from her loge, for literature makes "the fulfillment of [her] essential duties more bearable" (248). Renée feels that "literature has been [her] whole life," and without it, I do not think anything would have stopped Renée from becoming the dull, frumpy concierge that she pretends to be (71).
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