“Young Castle called me "Scoop." "Good Morning, Scoop. What's new in the word game?""I might ask the same of you," I replied."I'm thinking of calling a general strike of all writers until mankind finally comes to its senses. Would you support it?""Do writers have a right to strike? That would be like the police or the firemen walking out.""Or the college professors.""Or the college professors," I agreed. I shook my head. "No, I don't think my conscience would let me support a strike like that. When a man becomes a writer, I think he takes a sacred obligation to produce beauty and enlightenment and comfort at top speed.""I just can't help thinking what a real shake up it would give people if, all of a sudden, there were no new books, new plays, new histories, new poems...""And how proud would you be when people started dying like flies?" I demanded."They'd die more like mad dogs, I think--snarling & snapping at each other & biting their own tails."I turned to Castle the elder. "Sir, how does a man die when he's deprived of the consolation of literature?""In one of two ways," he said, "petrescence of the heart or atrophy of the nervous system.""Neither one very pleasant, I expect," I suggested."No," said Castle the elder. "For the love of God, both of you, please keep writing!”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis:
This quote from Kurt Vonnegut's "Letters" explores the idea of the importance of literature and the arts in society. The conversation revolves around the idea of writers going on strike and the potential consequences of a world without new books or creative works. Vonnegut's characters emphasize the role of writers in providing beauty, enlightenment, and comfort to society. The quote ultimately highlights the essential nature of literature in bringing solace and meaning to people's lives.
Modern Relevance of Kurt Vonnegut's Words
In this dialogue between characters in Kurt Vonnegut's work, the importance of literature and the arts is highlighted as essential for the well-being of society. The idea of a writer's strike causing chaos and despair among the population resonates with the power of storytelling and creativity in today's world. The conversation serves as a reminder of the impact that art and literature have on our lives and the collective human experience, emphasizing the need to continue creating and consuming meaningful content.
Example of Usage
In this passage from Kurt Vonnegut's work, the characters discuss the idea of writers going on strike and the impact it would have on society. Castle the elder emphasizes the importance of literature in providing comfort and enlightenment to people. This conversation highlights the power of writing and the responsibility writers have to continue creating despite any obstacles they may face.
Reflection Questions:
In this thought-provoking dialogue between writers, the importance of literature and its impact on society is highlighted. As you consider the questions raised by Vonnegut's characters, reflect on the following:
How do you view the role of writers in society? Do you agree with the idea that writers have a sacred obligation to produce beauty, enlightenment, and comfort?
What do you think would happen if there were no new books, plays, histories, or poems being created? How would society be affected?
In what ways does literature provide consolation to individuals? Have you ever experienced the comfort and enlightenment that comes from reading a piece of literature?
How do you interpret the two ways in which Castle the elder describes a person's death when deprived of literature (petrescence of the heart or atrophy of the nervous system)? Do you agree with these descriptions?
What are your thoughts on the idea of a general strike of writers? Do you believe writers have the right to strike, or do you think their duty to create should take precedence?
As you ponder these questions, consider the impact that literature has had on your own life and the importance of continuing to create and support the arts in society.
Similar quotes
“I just can't help thinking what a real shake up it would give people if, all of a sudden, there were no new books, new plays, new histories, new poems..." And how proud would you be when people started dying like flies?" I demanded. They'd die more like mad dogs, I think--snarling & snapping at each other & biting their own tails." I turned to Castle the elder. "Sir, how does a man die when he's deprived of the consolation of literature?" In one of two ways," he said, "petrescence of the heart or atrophy of the nervous system." Neither one very pleasant, I expect," I suggested. No," said Castle the elder. "For the love of God, both of you, please keep writing!”
“When a man becomes a writer, I think he takes on a sacred obligation to produce beauty and enlighenment and comfort at top speed”
“I think I succeeded as a writer because I did not come out of an English department. I used to write in the chemistry department. And I wrote some good stuff. If I had been in the English department, the prof would have looked at my short stories, congratulated me on my talent, and then showed me how Joyce or Hemingway handled the same elements of the short story. The prof would have placed me in competition with the greatest writers of all time, and that would have ended my writing career.”
“I'm simply interested in what is going to happen next. I don't think I can control my life or my writing. Every other writer I know feels he is steering himself, and I don't have that feeling. I don't have that sort of control. I'm simply becoming. I'm startled that I became a writer.”
“I became a so-called science fiction writer when someone decreed that I was a science fiction writer. I did not want to be classified as one, so I wondered in what way I'd offended that I would not get credit for being a serious writer. I decided that it was because I wrote about technology, and most fine American writers know nothing about technology. I got classified as a science fiction writer simply because I wrote about Schenectady, New York. My first book, Player Piano, was about Schenectady. There are huge factories in Schenectady and nothing else. I and my associates were engineers, physicists, chemists, and mathematicians. And when I wrote about the General Electric Company and Schenectady, it seemed a fantasy of the future to critics who had never seen the place.”
“And Castle nodded sagely. 'So this is a picture of the meaninglessness of it all! I couldn't agree more.''Do you really agree?' I asked. 'A minute ago you said something about Jesus.''Who?' said Castle.'Jesus Christ?''Oh,' said Castle. 'Him.' He shrugged. 'People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order, so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say.''I see.' I knew I wasn't going to have an easy time writing a popular article about him. I was going to have to concentrate on his saintly deeds and ignore entirely the satanic things he thought and said.”