No: their wish is, not
that I shall weep, but that I shall weep obscenely in the public gaze. In other
words, that I shall do their weeping for them, as a sort of emotional bedesman:
that I shall make public parade of sympathy in their behalf, so that they may
keep their own sympathy for themselves, and win comfort from the belief that
they are eased of their just responsibility by vicarious snivelling.
This is Arthur Morrison justifying his grimly realistic stories
about life in the London slums, pouring scorn on those who used their middle
class angst as a substitute for doing something constructive.
Vicarious snivelling eh? What a delightful phrase, and so apt for our times too.
3 comments:
Could be a strapline for the Guardian.
And I thought it was a village in Shropshire.
Sam - worth suggesting?
Demetrius - I think that's Much Snivelling.
Post a Comment