From a god’s mouth to our ears
I am reading a book by an author named Jasper Fforde, a rather clever writer who creates… worlds. I can’t describe it more than that. He’s surreal, and a little unhinged I’d wager (the second book in his Thursday Next series had the entire world created from strawberry angel topping), but immensely clever and much more thoughtful than you’d think at first glance.
This one I’m reading right now is called The Big Over Easy, and in short is a detective story set in Reading, in a world not unlike our own. The story follows Detective Inspector Jack Spratt - and DS Mary Mary - as they investigate the apparent suicide but possible murder of one Humperdink Dumpty. Who is an egg.
I said he was thoughtful? In the middle of his books this man can quite happily draw you in to a discussion about highly philosophical subjects that most contemporary writers would run screaming from. In this instance, Jack’s new lodger, one Prometheus (the Titan) discusses… well, let me transcribe.
“Three thousand years chained to a rock with your liver being picked out every night”, said Jack, shaking his head at the thought of the punishment. “Do you really think it was worth it?”
“Stealing fire and giving it to mankind? I still maintain it was the right thing to do. I also gave mankind the fear of death. Did you know that?”
They didn’t. It wasn’t generally known. It was a delicate subject that Heracles had thought was better to keep quiet lest it turned mankind against his client.
“No, why did you do that?” asked Jack, pouring Prometheus and Madeleine some more wine.
“Yes Please,” said Ben.
“One’s your lot, sunshine.”
“So you could value your own life,” replied the Titan. “Before that you were under the god’s thumbs, doing their bidding without caring if you lived or died. When you could see that life was worth living by your fear of theunknown that was death, then you could really make things happen. I gave you lot the wisdom or architecture, astronomy, mathematics, medicine and metallurgy. Look at you now. The pyramids, nuclear fusion, CAT scanners, space travel, the Internet, computers, escalators, the Parker-Knoll recliner and cable television. I get to watch 64 Wallrus Street every night. If I miss an episode it’s repeated the following evening on Channel WXZ-23-Reading. You lot truly amaze me and yes, I think it was all very worthwhile.”
He emptied his glass and pointed at the bottle.
“Do you mind?”
“No,” said Jack, “help yourself.”
“What about the side effects?” Asked Pandora*. “The wars, the deceit, the bloodshed, hate, murder, intolerance? Was all that worthwhile as well?”
Prometheus looked over at her.
“Of course now. But you have to look at the big picture. I’ve seen the alternative. Eternal slavery under the gods. Believe me, this is a bed of roses in comparison. Think of this: if it weren’t for greed, intolerance, hate, passion and murder, you would have no works of art, no great buildings, no medical science, no Mozart, no van Gogh, no Muppets and no Louis Armstrong. The civilisation that devises the infrastructure to allow these wonderful things to be created is essentially a product off war - death and suffering - and commerce - deceit and inequality. Even your liberty to discuss the shortcomings of your own species has its foundations in blood and hardship.”*not the Pandora, though she gets mentioned later…
I shall leave it to stand as its own comment.
