From "Free Food for Millionaires" by Min Jin Lee
"'You must choose yourself over the group [says Charles, the musician]... He was angry with his family, with the immigrant communities in New York, even the artists he knew who weren't Korean who kept on wanting to compromise. An artist, a real artist, couldn't do that. An artist could not necessarily have the things other people had - a happy marriage, children, a quiet home life, a retirement account, even mental health. These were the things that following convention might give you... Both of his wives had wanted children, but he had told them no, for these very reasons. Charles had no intention of giving up his art to make room for a steady job or crying babies, because to him, a life without music was insupportable. Without it, he would have certainly put the gun in his mouth." (p. 332)
[Casey's sister, who she's not always close to, tells her]: "'... you're a true person. You are your own. That's important." Tina's voice was assured. All her life, she had wanted to make decisions not informed by others' needs, wants, and expectations. "No one is like you... In the end, that matters most, I think. And being truthful.'" (p. 478)
Currently reading : The Metamorphosis, In The Penal Colony, and Other Stories - Franz Kafka 
2 comments:
wow. the comment regarding the definition and the commitment of the artist in this quote is challenging and severe. i wonder and question his statement, as powerful and insightful as it is. it's very passionate and romantic, idealistic even... but should anything require the sacrifice of one's mental health... unless under very extraordinary circumstances? it does cause one to think...
Yeah, I completely agree with you. I don't find myself agreeing with this quote - it isn't meant to be healthy, I don't believe, as this character in the book is not. But it challenged me anyway. I think mental health and family is still more important but I like the urgency of committing to one's art above choosing children or other callings, for example. That part I understand, though his thoughts are extreme and not fully informed.
Post a Comment