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It was Christmas Day and Danny the Car Wiper hit the…

“It was Christmas Day and Danny the Car Wiper hit the street junksick and broke after seventy-two hours in the precinct jail. It was a clear bright day, but there was warmth in the sun. Danny shivered with an inner cold. He turned up the collar of his worn, greasy black overcoat. This beat benny…” quote by William S. Burroughs
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““It was Christmas Day and Danny the Car Wiper hit the street junksick and broke after seventy-two hours in the precinct jail. It was a clear bright day, but there was warmth in the sun. Danny shivered with an inner cold. He turned up the collar of his worn, greasy black overcoat. This beat benny wouldn't pawn for a deuce, he thought.””

William S. Burroughs

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A vivid, surreal scene portrays a character’s harsh reality, juxtaposing bright environment with inner cold and desperation.

In simple terms: A gritty scene shows inner cold despite bright day.

Key Takeaway

Notice how external brightness can mask inner turmoil.

Themes

despair survival urban life

Mood

melancholic intense

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

  • street life
  • prison
  • personal struggle
  • weather metaphor

Key Concepts

surrealism existentialism social critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the bright day symbolize for the character?
  • How does the coat reflect his status?
A Different Perspective

The narrative may glorify hardship, overlooking systemic causes of suffering.

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