tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post4361913787785093275..comments2024-03-29T01:01:11.212-05:00Comments on PERPETUAL FOLLY: The New Yorker: "What Have You Done?" by Ben MarcusUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-34726986350898084742011-10-10T15:26:39.743-05:002011-10-10T15:26:39.743-05:00I held my breath during Paul's encounters with...I held my breath during Paul's encounters with his family. To envision those realistic scenes was embarrassing, as if I were listening in on a private and painful moment. I wanted to enter the story and take Paul away from the chaos to a place of safety while screaming words of retribution to those remaining. <br />I cringe to think how many " Pauls" are suffering daily destruction at tthe hands of "loved ones."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-50066040344341897672011-08-29T15:45:56.010-05:002011-08-29T15:45:56.010-05:00Ben Marcus's short story "What Have You D...Ben Marcus's short story "What Have You Done?" hit disturbingly close to home for me. Like the story's anti-hero Paul, I come from a family where the worst has always been expected of me. These bad expectations are predicated on youthful indiscretions which were neither unusual nor long-lasting. The worst part is that, despite the fact that I'm now a middle-aged, upper-income professional with a graduate degree and a life of my own, my family can only see me as an acne-faced teenage malcontent who didn't score high enough on the SAT to get into Yale.<br /><br />In any event, "What Have You Done?" paints a bleak and spot-on portrait of family dysfunction. Paul plays the role of scapegoat in his family. The more the family expects Paul to be dysfuctional, the more dysfunctional he acts. In turn, this only validates the expectations of his family members. As many of us have discovered, this vicious cycle can only be undone by Paul removing himself from the equation.<br /><br />We all make mistakes in life, but the hope is that families will support their members through difficult times, then celebrate their accomplishments when the hard times have passed. The terrible truth, however, is that some families cling to the past like a soiled-yet-comfortable blanket and prevent some of their neediest members from being able to move forward. Marcus tackles this difficult subject matter with incredible tact and precision.<br /><br />The bottom line is that "What Have You Done?" is a must-read for anyone who is estranged from her/his family. For both the character Paul and far too many of us in society, the answer to the loaded question "What Have You Done?" is: "Nothing. I've just tried to live my life and become a productive adult." As Paul finds out though, that answer doesn't matter because they won't believe you anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com