The Risk Of Reading Robert Waxler Summary
Who we are, who we want to be, maybe even an in-between. Linguistic narrative shapes our minds with a better understanding and connection of our embodied self and everyone around us. However, we do not always need a material book in front of us to travel deeper into ourselves; sometimes we need only to travel into our minds to create our own story.
In “The Risk of Reading”, written by Robert Waxler states “The gap that opens up between our “real life” and our stories –between the contingent events of our everyday lives and the narratives that shape those chaotic events –rouses us, excites desire, invites us to further recreate ourselves in pursuit of knowing ourselves. Telling stories to ourselves and to others sets us on the most important …show more content…
Mitty personifies himself in these daydreams as the hero or leader that everyone admirers and recognizes. Mitty is a typical man that desires to be someone important, refined, and special, but don’t we all? In his daydreams he attempts to recreate himself in the way he wishes to be and the way he wants other people to see him. In a way, Mitty is almost trying to find himself through his daydreams; trying to figure out who he is and why his life is so unsatisfying. Mitty as well shows very little interest in the people around him, yet shows an extraordinary amount of self-consciousness of what they think of him. He would prefer to live him his story dreams. Which contributes immensely to how important literature plays in “Telling Stories to ourselves and to others sets us on the most important journey of our lives.” (Waxler, 6). His able to give himself an alternative identity through the power of his daydreams and expand the creative side of his mind through the power of literature, through story. In reality, Mitty is a middle aged man dealing with the uncertainties and difficulties of a disappointing life, attempting to escape from his “real life.” It is human nature to want to be a better, more esteemed version of ourselves; whether that is becoming more intelligent, more attractive or more
In “The Risk of Reading”, written by Robert Waxler states “The gap that opens up between our “real life” and our stories –between the contingent events of our everyday lives and the narratives that shape those chaotic events –rouses us, excites desire, invites us to further recreate ourselves in pursuit of knowing ourselves. Telling stories to ourselves and to others sets us on the most important …show more content…
Mitty personifies himself in these daydreams as the hero or leader that everyone admirers and recognizes. Mitty is a typical man that desires to be someone important, refined, and special, but don’t we all? In his daydreams he attempts to recreate himself in the way he wishes to be and the way he wants other people to see him. In a way, Mitty is almost trying to find himself through his daydreams; trying to figure out who he is and why his life is so unsatisfying. Mitty as well shows very little interest in the people around him, yet shows an extraordinary amount of self-consciousness of what they think of him. He would prefer to live him his story dreams. Which contributes immensely to how important literature plays in “Telling Stories to ourselves and to others sets us on the most important journey of our lives.” (Waxler, 6). His able to give himself an alternative identity through the power of his daydreams and expand the creative side of his mind through the power of literature, through story. In reality, Mitty is a middle aged man dealing with the uncertainties and difficulties of a disappointing life, attempting to escape from his “real life.” It is human nature to want to be a better, more esteemed version of ourselves; whether that is becoming more intelligent, more attractive or more