Everyone knows the feeling of powerlessness, it’s the feeling of unbalance. The feeling slowly sneaks up on you, taking control over your body and mind. People react differently to the feeling. Some feel it when losing a loved one. Others feel it when being invaded in their safe place. To this, some react violently, which is exactly how Mike reacts in the text ‘Barbarians’.
The main character Mike is presented as a man who is mentally unstable and recovering from a nervous breakdown. Because of his doctor’s recommendation, Mike paints every Sunday – as a form of therapy. “Mike painted on Sundays, the only day he had to paint. Saturdays he helped his father in the hardware store in Brooklyn and weekdays he worked for a publishing house” (p.1 ll. 1-2). As it is seen in the quote Mike has a very structured life and knows what is happening which days, which might be a thing that he needs after his breakdown. On p. 1 ll. 15-16 it is seen that he does not see a future for himself, and does not know what to do with his life. “The eyes were finished – light brown. a little intense, hopeful. Hopeful of what? Mike didn’t know”
Det er gratis at oprette en konto