Abnormal Quote by Patricia Highsmith
“I should love to do a novel, about one abnormal character seeing present-day life, very ordinary life, yet arresting through it, abnormality, until at the end the reader sees, and with little reluctance, that he is not abnormal at all, and that the main character might as well be himself.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author discussion, 1970s
The writer wants to craft a novel where an apparently odd protagonist navigates everyday life, revealing that the perceived abnormality is actually a mirror of the reader’s own normalcy.
In simple terms: A story that shows how we view ourselves as abnormal when we’re really ordinary.
Key Takeaway
Use ordinary settings to explore deeper human truths.
Themes
identity
perception
normalcy
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- character study
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative technique
self‑awareness
literary irony
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the protagonist’s view challenge your own?
- What ordinary moments feel abnormal to you?
A Different Perspective
It may risk being too meta for some readers.
