The other attack going viral on tumblr at the moment is…
““The other attack going viral on tumblr at the moment is that I write novels about broken people who need saving, and that this encourages the romanticization of brokenness. Well, maybe there are wholly self-sufficient unbroken people who are able to thrive in complete isolation, succeeding solely by the sweat of their own Randian brows, but those are not the people I know or am interested in writing about. So yeah. I write about broken people who need other people in order to go on. But those are the only kind of people I know to exist. We are all broken. We all depend upon each other for support and compassion. That web of interconnected yearning and need is essential to my understanding of human experience, and I don’t find celebrating it problematic.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author argues that focusing on broken, interdependent characters reflects reality, emphasizing mutual support over isolated self-sufficiency.
In simple terms: People need each other; isolation is unrealistic.
Key Takeaway
Value and nurture interdependence.
Themes
humanity
interdependence
vulnerability
Mood
empathetic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing fiction
- therapy groups
- community projects
- support networks
Key Concepts
existentialism
social psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does interdependence shape your life?
- Can you balance vulnerability with resilience?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on brokenness may romanticize suffering.