The Only Story
by
Julian Barnes
“Would you rather love the more, and suffer the more; or love the less, and suffer the less? That is, I think, finally, the only real question.”
Hello Readers! This blog is a part of Thinking Activity. It was assigned by Dr Dilip Barad sir(HoD), Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to write about Worksheet 3 which was in the blog linked here (click here) , For for Symbolism in Crossword Puzzle.
Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes is the author of several books of stories, essays, a translation of Alphonse Daudet's In the Land of Pain, and numerous novels, including the 2011 Man Booker Prize winning novel The Sense of an Ending and the stunning The Only Story. Other publications include Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art and The Man in the Red Coat.
Booklist calls Barnes's most recent novel Elizabeth Finch, "A lyrical, thoughtful, and intriguing exploration of love, grief, and the collective myths of history. Barnes adds yet another remarkable title to his astoundingly remarkable body of work."
Barnes has received numerous awards and honours for his writing, most recently the David Cohen Prize for Literature in 2011, the 2011 Man Booker Prize, the 2021 Jerusalem Prize, and the 2021 Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award. Also in 2021, he was awarded the Jean Bernard Prize, so named in memory of the great specialist in hematology who was a member of the French Academy and chaired the Academy of Medicine.Click here to know more
The Only Story
Julian Barnes’s slim, grim new novel, “The Only Story,” will remind fans of “A Sense of an Ending,” which won the Booker Prize in 2011. Like that elegiac novel, his new book concerns an older man who looks back with a pained sense of culpability at a relationship in his youth. Perhaps for some authors of a certain age — Barnes is now 72 — doleful nostalgia becomes the only story. Click here to know more
Barnes deftly explores time and memory in his latest novel, about an older man recalling the romance that defined his life. Like his Man Booker winning 2011 novel The Sense of an Ending, and indeed his 2008 memoir Nothing to Be Frightened Of, Julian Barnes’s latest novel is narrated by an older man puzzling over the meaning of existence. All three speakers share a 1950s childhood in the “Metroland” of Barnes’s debut novel, and a promising, if anxious, academic 60s youth that took them away from their suburban families. Each also has a similarly melancholy, intimate tone, a fine line in rhythmic, elegant, understated prose, and plenty to say about time, love and the slippery nature of memory. (Clanchy)
Worksheet 3:
1. Analyze the context of the following quote: "Why do you cheat at crosswords?"
A. Who is the speaker and to whom is this question addressed?
Paul is asking this question to Joan, Paul is the Speaker.
B. What is the response given by the recipient?
Joan responded , you mischievous person. I assume Susan spilled the beans to you. You see, and I hope you never experience this yourself, but some of us reach a point in life where we realize that nothing holds significance. Absolutely nothing. And one of the few perks of reaching that stage is knowing that you won't be condemned for filling in the wrong answers in a crossword puzzle.
C. Is the reference to "cheating at crosswords" repeated in the novel?
Yes, this novel shows two different ideas about "cheating" in crosswords. Paul thinks it's wrong, but Joan has her own reasons for doing it and doesn't see it as bad. This keeps coming up, showing how people can have different ideas about what's right and wrong.
d. What inferences can be drawn from this reference?
Joan "cheats" in crosswords because she thinks life is messy and doesn't have a clear plan. By cheating, she's kind of saying "screw the rules" to the idea that everything in life needs to be figured out. It's her way of dealing with the chaos and problems in life. It's like a personal game where she makes her own rules, which helps her feel better.
2. Investigate the symbolic significance of ‘crosswords’ in the novel "The Only Story."
A. Use ChatGPT as a starting point, and then compare and contrast with information from the teacher's blog. https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2022/02/the-only-story.html
Order and Meaning: Crosswords represent the human desire to impose order and meaning on a chaotic world. The grid structure and defined rules offer a sense of control and certainty.
Characters like Paul find solace in solving crosswords, seeking answers and connections within the puzzle's framework.
Illusion of Control and Meaning: However, Joan's "cheating" challenges this notion. She disregards the rules, highlighting the limitations of order and suggesting that meaning may not be readily available.
Crosswords then become a symbol of the futility of seeking absolute truth and certainty. Life might be inherently messy and lack clear answers.
Coping Mechanism and Escape: For Joan, "cheating" becomes a coping mechanism. It allows her to detach from the pressure of finding meaning and embrace the absurdity of life.
Crosswords offer a temporary escape from the burdens of her past and the uncertainties of the present.
Individual interpretations: The "cheating" itself represents the subjective nature of truth and meaning. Paul and Joan have different interpretations of what constitutes "cheating", reflecting their individual worldviews and coping mechanisms.
Contrasting Values: Crosswords become a microcosm of broader societal values. They represent traditional notions of logic, order, and intellectualism, often associated with Paul's generation.
Joan's challenge to these values reflects a shift towards postmodern perspectives that question absolutes and embrace ambiguity.
B. Write a comprehensive answer that summarizes the findings.
The response from ChatGPT talks about how Joan sees crossword puzzles differently because of her experiences in life. She cheats on them as a way to deal with life's chaos and uncertainties. Meanwhile, the teacher's blog focuses more on the traditional idea of cheating in crossword puzzles and Joan's different perspective on it. Joan doesn't think it's cheating in the same way Paul might. Both perspectives help us understand the novel from different angles.
3. Analyze the following quote in the context of the novel: "The point of the story is 'safe and capable.'"
A. Identify the speaker and the person to whom the quote is addressed.
"The point of the story is 'safe and capable." Susan is telling Paul and the Speaker is Susan and the Person is the paul.
B. Describe the significance of this quote within the context of the story.
The essence of the story revolves around the theme of being "safe and capable." When Jack faced death, he entrusted Gordon to Susan because he believed she would look after him well. This trust was immense, to the extent that, despite Jack's deep affection for Paul Roberts, he couldn't entrust Gordon to him. Thus, the concept of being "safe and capable" is intricately linked to the trust Jack had in Susan.
4. Evaluate the use of the phrase "moviemaker's bromide" in the novel "The Only Story."
A. How many times is the phrase used in the novel?
The phrase "safe and capable" appears twice in the novel.
b. What is the situation when this phrase appears in the novel?
In the novel, the phrase "safe and capable" is used twice in a situation where Paul is with Susan on her deathbed. He reflects on how a goodbye can seem overly dramatic, almost like something scripted by a movie maker's cliché.
c. What does it signify within the context of the story?
Within the novel, we witness Paul, now elderly, visiting Susan, his beloved, as she lies on her deathbed. Through Paul's reflections, Julian Barnes conveys the notion that if their situation were portrayed in a movie, it would echo the classic scene where the hero bids farewell to the heroine with a poignant kiss on the forehead, her passing marking the conclusion of the story with dramatic flourish. This sentiment is echoed in the original text: "I wondered if I should kiss her goodbye. Another moviemaker’s bromide... Then, with the tears unwiped from my cheeks, I would rise slowly and leave her." (Barnes) This portrayal challenges traditional notions of love, presenting the reality that love often concludes with poignant emotions, rejecting idealized romanticism.
Narrative pattern of the Novel :
The novel employs a non-linear narrative structure, jumping back and forth in time. It begins with the protagonist, Paul, reflecting on his past, particularly his relationship with Susan, a married woman much older than him.
The story then moves back and forth between different periods of Paul's life, exploring the evolution of his relationship with Susan and its impact on him over the years. Throughout the novel, Paul reflects deeply on his past and the choices he has made, particularly his decision to enter into a romantic relationship with Susan despite the societal norms and the disapproval of others. He examines his motivations, desires, and the consequences of his actions, offering readers insight into his psyche and emotional state.
Love is a central theme of the novel, explored through Paul and Susan's relationship and its various stages. The narrative delves into the complexities of romantic love, the intensity of emotions it evokes, and the challenges of sustaining it over time. Memory also plays a significant role, as Paul reminisces about his past with Susan and grapples with the ways in which memory can be subjective and unreliable.
References:
Clanchy, Kate. “The Only Story by Julian Barnes review – an exquisite look at love.” The Guardian, 26 January 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/26/the-only-story-julian-barnes-review . Accessed 3 February 2024.
Open AI. "Chat GPT-3.5"
Words : 1629
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