Zeno’s Conscience
Response
Although we have only read two
sections of Zeno’s Conscience, Zeno reveals in these parts several of his
character traits and his conclusions about his illness, which are quite
interesting. The overarching question that
I had while reading these sections is, “why does Zeno have a need to be
‘cured?’” What is Zeno looking to attain by being cured? In the
“Psychoanalysis” section, there is a possible response to these questions that
is offered: Zeno’s illness is life itself.
There are tragedies and uncertainties in life, which cause people to
worry and become depressed. However, there is no cure to life because it is an
abstract illness that no doctor can diagnose. On page 416 it says, “real
sickness was so simple: you just let it have its way. In fact, when I read in a
medical volume the description of my sweet sickness, I discovered a kind of
program of life (not death!) in its various stages.” Zeno was relieved when he
had a physical illness because there was a concrete cure for his sickness. Zeno’s illness can be interpreted as the
struggle of life itself, for which there is no cure.
Reading your response, I have to admit that your conclusion of life itself being Zeno's illness is something that I agree with. The sections we read for class left me believing that Zeno was not truly mad at all, but I knew that he wasn't entirely normal and wasn't sure how to articulate this. I think you have done a good job with this task. Since this illness is more abstract, it makes sense that a self-important psychiatrist such as the one who "published" Zeno's manuscript would conjure up a complex diagnosis for our title character. Even if this theory of life itself being an illness is not true, I do believe that Zeno is not afflicted with the Oedipus Complex.
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ReplyDeleteSaying Zeno's illness is life itself is a unique and abstract thought. I like the idea that doctors are unable to treat this sickness because there is no cure. Life is full of both ups and downs. It's these downs (our stresses, worries, and sadness) that can lead to an illness; however I think there is a cure. The cure would be a life of happiness. We need to understand that things happen and try to adapt to our situations while maintaing a positive attitude. Zeno struggles to obtain this attitude and thus results in his illness throughout the book.
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