The Fall of Edward Barnard by Somerset Maugham – one of my favorite writers, author of Jane https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/2024/04/jane-by-somerset-maugham-author-of.html and other wonderful stories - 10 out of 10

 

The Fall of Edward Barnard by Somerset Maugham – one of my favorite writers, author of Jane https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/2024/04/jane-by-somerset-maugham-author-of.html and other wonderful stories

 

10 out of 10

 

The Fall of Edward Barnard reminds me of The Ant and The Grasshopper, the fable by Aesop, which was re imagined by William Somerset Maugham, in this re-telling, the ant is no longer the unequivocal positive figure, the one we venerate for her hard work, good sense, resilience, and we see the downside of her attitude

 

The ant looks down at the grasshopper, who is enjoying time, somewhat, or completely reckless in the first version, telling him he has to work, for in winter there will be no warm days, he will need food, and the rest of it, which makes sense on so many levels, though not on all, there is Carpe Diem to consider and Serenity Now!

‘Happiness Activity No 9: Savoring Life’s Joys-paying close attention, taking delight in life’s momentary pleasures and wonders, through thinking, writing, drawing or sharing with another’ this is from one of the best books of positive psychology, The How of Happiness https://realini.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-how-of-happiness-by-sonja.html

 

The glorious author, Sonja Lyubomirsky explains how Savoring is crucial, and we should also consider the hedonist philosophy – these days, stoic, hedonic concepts have changed their meaning, they were not as radical as people think, hedonic did not mean dissipation, eating more than sensible, it had to do with pleasures of the spirit…

The Ant and The Grasshopper and The Fall of Edward Barnard would share the discovery of pleasure, at least in my mind, Edward Barnard would be The Grasshopper https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-ant-and-grasshopper-by-somerset.html choosing a life of leisure

 

It is over simplifying, but when he travels to Tahiti, the main character has in mind making a good living, money to get back and Isabel Longstaffe, his sweetheart, but working hard does not seem the right thing for him, that would be the judgment of critics, those who favor Edward Barnard and his lifestyle would praise him

This also brings to mind The Harvard Professor Tal Ben Shahar, the one who gave the most popular lectures in the history of that institution, teaching positive psychology – you can find it on YouTube – and gave some fantastic examples https://realini.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-pursuit-of-perfect-by-tal-ben-shahar.html

Sometimes stories from real life, like this one (apparently) this individual is trying to learn hard, to get good grades, so that he can get to a good, or one of the best universities, in which he struggles again, to get a good, one of the best jobs, then he works to climb the ladder, for promotions and recognition, assiduously

 

One day, the vice president comes into the office, and he thinks this is the big day, only they talk retirement, and that is the paradigm of the rat race, we learn in school for an elusive prize, and keep on it, to reach some goal that is not really worthwhile, as long as we do not make the connection, make it our calling

Returning to Edward Barnard, he realized in Tahiti that he was not made for this Hedonic Treadmill, did not want to keep running for some targets that do not have significance for him – yes there is the side of the affair with the woman that has remained in America, but she is also in a situation explained by the same Tal Ben Shahar

 

He explains how we get involved in false relationships and situations, by trying to project an image of ourselves, to potential partners and others, that is not real, it is embellished, for better chances of success, only as we have seen in comedies that the result can be awful, there are two possibilities here, as the professor explains:

The prospect likes the portrait, only she gets infatuated with someone else, for this is not us we are talking about, but some knight in shining armor that has very little, if anything, in common with the real person, or she does not like that portrait, and we lose in both cases, to somebody else or that flawed, false avatar

 

Therefore, I am thinking that Edward Barnard did not really ‘fall’, on the contrary, it seems he ascended in the lap of luxury – that is a Jethro Tull song – but in the spiritual sense, financially speaking, he failed, he is dressed with shabby clothes, but to me, he is the exception to the Hedonic Adaptation rule, in some ways…

Another Harvard Professor, brilliant Daniel Gilbert, has written the classic of psychology Stumbling On Happiness https://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/stumbling-on-happiness-by-david-gilbert.html in which he looked at the myths that are connected with mirth, we say we would be happy, if only this or that were to happen

 

One of the most common is the ideal of living on a Pacific (Tahiti fits the description), Caribbean Island, California, but when those who made the move were studied, it was proved that they get used with the good things associated with the change, sun, palm trees, splendid landscapes, and then are annoyed by the shortcomings

This is called Hedonic Adaptation, and we get into the habit of not seeing the things we thought would make us ecstatic, it is recommended that we spend money on experiences, travel, and not assume that material goods will keep us felicitous…the move to Tahiti worked nevertheless for The Grasshopper Edward Barnard, he found a new life, which would better suit his wishes, there is the need to find your calling, and Tal Ben Shahar has advice on that too, look at the group of things you like, are good at, and have special significance, and where they intersect, you need to look for vocation

 

Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/unique-in-world.html?q=unique+in+the+world – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se

 

 There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know

 

As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/realini-in-newsweek-participant-in.html

 

Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works

 

‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’

 

‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’

 

“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”