In the
short story " Only the Dead Know Brooklyn" by Thomas Wolfe, I strongly
identify with the sensibility of the "big guy" who seeks to discover
Brooklyn, as opposed to the" little guy" who tries to dissuade him. The
little guy constantly tries to thwart the big guy's natural curiosity,
and sense of wonder with the world. The "big guy," asks question,
and has a natural desire to explore his environment. In my own life, I
constantly walk the streets of Boston, and always want to discover the
hidden mysteries of the cityscape.
The "big guy" who
appears lost on a Brooklyn subway platform seek assistance from a long
time native of Brooklyn. The "big guy" asks the little guy about
getting to "Bensonhoist" a section of the borough. The little guy asks
him why does he want to travel out there. The big guy responded: "... I
like to go out an' take a look at place wit nice names like dat. I like
to look to go out an' look at all kinds of places." (Wolfe) The little
guy was shocked and even angered by this. He responded "Whatcha trying
to hand me?... ". ( Wolfe) It was beyond the realm of the little guy's
experience to explore something simply because of its name. He was
practical--his curiosity did not stray to fanciful notions.
I
find the big guy's approach more to my liking. In my travels through the
city I will often go down streets with names like " Hamlet Street' or
"Joy Street" just to see what they look like. I am open to discovery--I
can be impractical just like the big guy. There is no room for this with
the little guy.
The big guy's impractical nature, his flights of
fancy, his raw artistic nature is one that I can identify with. If I
was on the subway platform with the little guy, the little guy would be
equally frustrated with me.
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