Let us consider the farmer who makes his straw hat his…
““ Let us consider the farmer who makes his straw hat his sweetheart; or the old woman who makes a floor lamp her son; or the young woman who has set herself the task of scraping her shadow off a wall… Let us consider the old woman who wore smoked cows’ tongues for shoes and walked a meadow gathering cow chips in her apron; or a mirror grown dark with age that was given to a blind man who spent his nights looking into it, which saddened his mother, that her son should be so lost in vanity… Let us consider the man who fried roses for his dinner, whose kitchen smelled like a burning rose garden; or the man who disguised himself as a moth and ate his overcoat, and for dessert served himself a chilled fedora… ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage satirically portrays absurd, surreal attachments and actions, highlighting how people cling to meaningless objects or identities, exposing the folly of misplaced devotion.
In simple terms: People often cling to odd, pointless things, revealing absurdity in our attachments.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question irrational attachments.
Themes
absurdity
identity
attachment
satire
meaninglessness
Mood
ironic
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- consumer culture
- art criticism
- psychological introspection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
surrealism
symbolism
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What attachments in your life feel absurd?
- How do you differentiate meaningful devotion from vanity?
A Different Perspective
The humor may downplay genuine emotional pain behind such attachments.