From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@kohath.wanadoo.co.uk)
Date: Tue Nov 02 2004 - 22:28:52 GMT
Hi Mark,
> msh says:
> LOL. Well, I dunno. I guess you'll have to explain that one to me.
> He was sort of toad-like in facial appearance, that's for sure.
I mean that he was serially unfaithful to his wives, screwed up his children (they all committed
suicide I think), was generally an unbearable shit to get close to. That sort of thing.... But he
was good at logic, until about 1910 or so. (This makes it sound like I have no respect for him at
all, but that's not right. I think he's a fascinating character - just not someone I would have
thought of as a hero, that's all - hence my surprise)
> msh:
> Well at least he appreciates the blue books. As for the dismissal of
> the political stuff, this is exactly the sort of thing one hears
> whenever authority is challenged, and people who are comfortable with
> authority (because they are closely aligned with it) get nervous.
>
> Here you have a man who probably never descended from Level IV long
> enough even to get laid, at odds with a man who was equally
> comfortable on II, III, and IV, that is, completely human, warts and
> all (hey, the toad!). Of Witt and BR, who would you say led a more
> Christ-like existence?
Undoubtedly LW, in lots of different ways, eg giving away a fortune to his sisters, because he felt
they were the only people who wouldn't be corrupted by sudden wealth. But you're right that he
should have got laid more! (he was too screwed up about his homosexuality).
One of my favourite comments of LW's is 'I have often learned a lesson from a silly American film' -
he was addicted to the cinema, especially westerns - and this comment comes in the months after 'A
Wonderful Life' was released. I like to think it lies behind his last words ("tell them I've had a
wonderful life") and that he did unwind towards the end. He's a very *human* sort of thinker, LW.
Just not very forgiving of himself, or others, for most of his existence.
Cheers
Sam
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