One More Time
This is a book review of Zeno’s Conscience, an early modernist literary work by Italo Svevo, a name less known outside the literary world but inspired writers like James Joyce to Samuel Beckett, lending concepts to the field of psychoanalysis (Alenka Zupancic, Zizek & others). Zeno has his own way of talking about things, sometimes describing them as events, sometimes colored with biases but passed off as truth, even when he is trying to find out what went wrong with his life, decisions, with self awareness, but ends up portraying the contrary, where he is never at fault, just a bit confused perhaps, and this hardens into reality, which is also the source of humor in his writings.
His love for Ada transcends all his actions in the drive for his desires whereas ada herself is part of his unbound, unrestrained indulgence. The therapist would say it is a classic case of him wanting his mother, her love and seeking it repeatedly without cessation in his romantic partners. But the goal is an impossibility as he’ll never be satisfied (as his lack is imaginary??) Trying to grasp thin air with his fists/ spectre/ ever evading). His complex relationship with his father is a part of his thoughts that irritate him, attempting to understand his actions and feelings towards him. He probably wanted to know if his father loved him or not, but more than that, if he considered him wise enough to be able to take his seat, replace him, was he happy with himself for having a son like Zeno. Zeno’s memories during the interactions he remembers with his father, especially the last one, the slap, is a perplexing thought that occupies and affects his mental status, as well as his approach towards life and people.
He has an extraordinarily ridiculous, contemptible portrait of Guido, which is funny and if one trusts Zeno’s words, also makes him appear stupid and unworthy, of Ada or anything. Guido’s decisions, be it in matters of trade, or life in general, are always looked down upon by Zeno, and occasionally the reader falls for it too, only to be brought into light by the therapist’s mention of Zeno’s caricature of Guido.
Olivi is smart, coming from humble backgrounds, working the hardest, creating all the value but will probably remain in the same social status, having to work for someone and raise their wealth, making a few bucks every now and then with wise and restrained decisions. He seems smart enough to be aware of that, and this should make him somewhat grumpy, the old loyal man to the rich aristocrat, his ability far exceeding those of his employees, but he only seems to stop zeno’s stupid and idealised trade decisions.
The therapist has a psychoanalytic lens for analysing all the events, thoughts and feelings Zeno has undergone, or claims to ,and has to be in action and churn out some ‘ cure’. Opinions differ on this matter between the patient and the doctor. The doctor outlines his pattern of behavior with Ada and other women, Guido, relationship with his father, Olivi, his longing for his mother and puts it out for him to see, and then feel good or normal after knowing it. To see the cause of his actions as a result of his desires from childhood, unresolved emotions. Zeno always is sceptical of this process yet he is desperate for a cure because he believes he is sick. Sick from smoking, because of not being able to quit & worrying about it, from his experiences of marriage, his constant flirtations with other women, trying to find solace in different people, failing every time, his equation with his father, the memory of the slap of his father, surviving the trade business. He is overwhelmed and yet empty and left wanting. Skeptical of because the moment he begins to describe any event, he realises the futility of his speech, is already aware of the concoctions he is about to articulate or lie, and already seems, at least in his mind to be moving towards self clarity, though he is not there yet.
His trouble at recalling events and dreams, making them up to please the doctor or get away from the clutches of the chair and the bounds of the room, seem to downplay the trust and importance of therapy as a cure for him and in the end he feels he is cured now because he was never sick. The framework of the doctor for him was very limiting, and one where all experiences and troubles could be reduced down to one single explanation and the revelation of it to the patient could be the cure. This didn’t work for Zeno and he attains his desired clarity later on, though due to external and forced events, as he claims. The war and his experience leading to it changed him, the brutality and the separation, realising none of his troubles were big enough to cause harm, they were just an everyday part of living, coming and going, like waves, not to be worried about, just lived. Holes of the body are not wounds, they don’t need to be healed and sealed, or else we’ll choke.
He makes a critical observation about the cause of such crises in man as the result of modernity, the arrival of the device. One who holds the most rules, instead of the one being the most powerful, as in earlier times. There was peace in earlier times as everyone knew who was the strongest and stayed in their place. He seems to indicate there was order before and that kept our civilization sane. Indicating towards capitalism he says, we are adapting as per the changes in our surroundings, as a mole or a swallow would, or are making shields that require a strong hand. We are dependent on devices that make us weaker.
This book is a wonderful portrayal of the malady and melancholy of the modern man, where he becomes trapped in a maze of his own creation and as an escape, engages into repetitive acts that seem like rebellion but ultimately acquaint and appoint him well within the order. The illusion of choice and freedom has put the onus on us for our own destiny but life and nature has always been out of control. This friction leads to uneasiness and sometimes we can’t come in tune with reality, holding on to things so we feel a sense of familiarity, predictability. This is the essence of a human life and no one really escapes it, though only some realise it. The best way out would be to accept these contradictions and as Zizek says, “ Enjoy your symptoms”.
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