I'm assuming the title can refer to Arthur as well as to the person pushing the shopping cart . . . in which case I'm interpreting the story as reflecting on questions about what it means to be a man in the current era. Petty troubles such as power outages seem to be the only time the contemporary male gets to perform the role of valiant protector of his children, his woman. Is Arthur really a man, then, if that's the closest he gets to being the ideal stalwart defender of hearth and home? Perhaps the shopping-cart wanderer is more a man than Arthur (good choice of name by the way; very symbolic!), braving the elements and refusing to be conquered by them, meeting the universe on its own terms armed with naught but his own iron will. I don't know if you're familiar with it, but Arcade Fire's song "Modern Man" is a good accompaniment to Arthur's 21st-century male malaise.
Thanks for this careful reading. I think it's an accurate look at the story. My main goal was to create an encounter that drew a sharp contrast between one man's chosen suffering / comfort (a cigarette in the cold, family life, generator, warm house) and one man's isolated path that can really only lead to death. Arthur doesn't change anything or take any action after seeing this man, but he does actually *see* him and that's the point
I enjoyed this! Lovely, distinct scene with plenty to ponder. I recently had a moment at a Walgreens where a man walked in and out again with two jugs of laundry detergent—I was at the counter checking out and the woman behind they counter had been shouting at the man to leave, since apparently he stole from them this way frequently.
I had a bit of a crisis in that I did zero to intervene. Pragmatically, I don't think I did anything wrong, and my wife agrees, but I still couldn't help but agonize over whether I demonstrated cowardice in not stopping the man, or at least trying to...
This story feels connected in that still moment, that pause of potential action that then lapses into inaction. I am frankly terrified of inaction or negligence like that...something to reckon with.
Thanks man, that means a lot. Yeah, the goal was to put a spotlight on chosen discomfort vs forced suffering, and that contrast sort of makes Arthur freeze, unable to move or do something before he’s drawn back into his immediate responsibilities.
It is just that general level of discomfort that one has when they don’t know anything real to do.
Thanks, Andrew! I wanted to, even in a very short narrative, explore the contrast of chosen suffering/light suffering and extreme suffering, and the contemplation that experiencing that contrast might bring.
That's great to hear. I was a bit concerned about getting the point across with the right amount of subtlety and thematic prowess in such a short window.
Great read dude! I think you have some great descriptive words and I encourage you to keep working on some of your other stories, I’d love to read them.
I'm assuming the title can refer to Arthur as well as to the person pushing the shopping cart . . . in which case I'm interpreting the story as reflecting on questions about what it means to be a man in the current era. Petty troubles such as power outages seem to be the only time the contemporary male gets to perform the role of valiant protector of his children, his woman. Is Arthur really a man, then, if that's the closest he gets to being the ideal stalwart defender of hearth and home? Perhaps the shopping-cart wanderer is more a man than Arthur (good choice of name by the way; very symbolic!), braving the elements and refusing to be conquered by them, meeting the universe on its own terms armed with naught but his own iron will. I don't know if you're familiar with it, but Arcade Fire's song "Modern Man" is a good accompaniment to Arthur's 21st-century male malaise.
Thanks for this careful reading. I think it's an accurate look at the story. My main goal was to create an encounter that drew a sharp contrast between one man's chosen suffering / comfort (a cigarette in the cold, family life, generator, warm house) and one man's isolated path that can really only lead to death. Arthur doesn't change anything or take any action after seeing this man, but he does actually *see* him and that's the point
I enjoyed this! Lovely, distinct scene with plenty to ponder. I recently had a moment at a Walgreens where a man walked in and out again with two jugs of laundry detergent—I was at the counter checking out and the woman behind they counter had been shouting at the man to leave, since apparently he stole from them this way frequently.
I had a bit of a crisis in that I did zero to intervene. Pragmatically, I don't think I did anything wrong, and my wife agrees, but I still couldn't help but agonize over whether I demonstrated cowardice in not stopping the man, or at least trying to...
This story feels connected in that still moment, that pause of potential action that then lapses into inaction. I am frankly terrified of inaction or negligence like that...something to reckon with.
Thanks for the story!
Thanks man, that means a lot. Yeah, the goal was to put a spotlight on chosen discomfort vs forced suffering, and that contrast sort of makes Arthur freeze, unable to move or do something before he’s drawn back into his immediate responsibilities.
It is just that general level of discomfort that one has when they don’t know anything real to do.
Very engaging short story. Love the flow and invitation into Arthur’s subtle dilemmas
Thanks, Andrew! I wanted to, even in a very short narrative, explore the contrast of chosen suffering/light suffering and extreme suffering, and the contemplation that experiencing that contrast might bring.
It came across very well
That's great to hear. I was a bit concerned about getting the point across with the right amount of subtlety and thematic prowess in such a short window.
This is awesome. Thank you for keeping short story alive!
Thanks, Justin!
Great read dude! I think you have some great descriptive words and I encourage you to keep working on some of your other stories, I’d love to read them.
Bro! so good to hear from you. thanks a lot. would love to hear how you're doing