“Nathaniel, who has failed as a writer, decides to commit suicide. He loads his revolver, places it at his side on his desk, and starts to write his letter of farewell. The letter lengthens, brightens, breathes, lives. It is the Masterpiece, the yearned-for Masterpiece! In order to publish it, Nathaniel does not commit suicide.”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Quote
In this quote by Enrique Anderson-Imbert, the character Nathaniel experiences a transformation in his mindset and creative output when faced with the decision to commit suicide. Initially feeling like a failure as a writer, Nathaniel intends to end his life but instead finds inspiration and purpose in the act of writing his farewell letter. As he pours his emotions into the letter, it evolves into a masterpiece that gives him a reason to live. This quote highlights the power of art and creativity to provide solace and redemption in times of despair.
Modern Relevance of Enrique Anderson-Imbert's Quote
In today's fast-paced and competitive world, many individuals struggle with feelings of failure and inadequacy, especially in creative pursuits. This quote by Enrique Anderson-Imbert serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of art and creativity. It highlights the notion that even in moments of despair, one's creative potential can flourish and lead to great achievements, ultimately saving one from self-destructive tendencies. This message is particularly relevant in a society where mental health issues are prevalent, underscoring the importance of finding solace and purpose through artistic expression.
Example of Usage:
In this quote from Enrique Anderson-Imbert, the character Nathaniel's failed writing attempts lead him to contemplate suicide. However, as he writes his farewell letter, he creates a masterpiece that gives him a renewed sense of purpose and stops him from taking his own life.
“Nathaniel, who has failed as a writer, decides to commit suicide. He loads his revolver, places it at his side on his desk, and starts to write his letter of farewell. The letter lengthens, brightens, breathes, lives. It is the Masterpiece, the yearned-for Masterpiece! In order to publish it, Nathaniel does not commit suicide.” - Enrique Anderson-Imbert
Reflection Questions:
This thought-provoking scenario presented by Enrique Anderson-Imbert raises questions about creativity, self-worth, and the value of life. Consider the following reflection questions:
What do you think drove Nathaniel to the point of wanting to commit suicide? How did the act of writing his farewell letter change his perspective?
Is there a connection between Nathaniel's perception of success as a writer and his decision to take his own life? How can an individual's sense of worth be tied to their creative endeavors?
In what ways does this story challenge the notion of a "masterpiece" and the pressure to achieve perfection in creative pursuits? How might Nathaniel's experience resonate with artists or writers struggling with self-doubt?
How might the outcome have been different if Nathaniel had not found validation through his writing? What does this suggest about the power of recognition and external validation in relation to mental health and self-esteem?
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“It's Nathaniel Hawthorne Month in English. Poor Nathaniel. Does he know what they've done to him? We're reading The Scarlet Letter one sentence at a time, tearing it up and chewing on its bones.It's all about SYMBOLISM, says Hairwoman. Every word chosen by Nathaniel, every comma, every paragraph break -- these were all done on purpose. To get a decent grade in her class, we have to figure out what he was really trying to say. Why couldn't he just say what he meant? Would they pin scarlet letters on his chest? B for blunt, S for straightforward?”
“They're a funny lot, suicides. I remember one man who couldn't get any work to do and his wife died, so he pawned his clothes and bought a revolver; but he made a mess of it, he only shot out an eye and he got alright. And then, if you please, with an eye gone and a piece of his face blown away, he came to the conclusion that the world wasn't such a bad place after all, and he lived happily ever afterwards. Thing I've always noticed, people don't commit suicide for love, as you'd expect, that's just a fancy of novelists; they commit suicide because they haven't got any money. I wonder why that is." "I suppose money's more important than love," suggest Philip.”
“The original Shiro-sama failed, of course, and was ordered by the emperor to commit ritual suicide in his temple in the mountains. He did, and his followers cremated his body and put his bones in a sacred urn to be guarded until the time he was reborn.""And that's the Hayashi Urn?" she said. "A funeral jar? And I kept my cookies init?”
“Hitler gave us orders - and we believed in him. Then he commits suicide and leaves us to bear the guilt. He should have remained alive to bear his share.”
“The world is full of men who want to be right, when actually the secret of a man's strength and his pathway to true honor is his ability to admit fault when he has failed. God wants to fill the church with men who can say they are wrong when THEY ARE WRONG. A man who is willing to humble himself before God and his family and say:"I was wrong." will find that his family has all the confidence in the world in him and will much more readily follow him. If he stubbornly refuses to repent or admit he was wrong, their confidence in him and in his leadership erodes.”
“A detective who uses his deductive powers to corner a suspect and then does nothing to stop them from committing suicide is no better than a murderer himself. - Kudo Shinichi”