At age 17 or so I read Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser and came to the conclusion that the author thought women were simple beings. It seemed that his minimal understanding of women was adopted through the lens of his magazine career, which is why I failed at being able to connect with the one-dimensional female character he created in what is supposed to be a literary novel. Maybe he believed women were intellectually challenged, or maybe he was shallow himself. Either way, I found it disappointing.
Which is why I was surprised when my friend said the book was one of her favorites, and that she could really relate to the character. I was disappointed by her revelation, thinking my friend was simpler than I had made her out to be in my mind. How could she relate to such a bland disposable soap opera, nowhere near the quality of more deserving life-changing classics we've read? I was baffled. Why Dreiser was ever considered even worthy of banning is beyond me.
Maybe this is what my mom means when she says I have a lot of expectations of people, which is why she says I become disappointed. My expectations are far from mainstream though. I don't care if you're a doctor or a dropout, a sinner or a saint, a beauty queen or covered with warts. All I really want is a reasonable level of intellectual aptitude and to be treated with equal respect. I am extremely tolerant and forgiving, unless you're habitually abusive or something, wherein I simply distance myself. Even when I'm temporarily peeved about some minor issue, chances are I still adore you, because I love everyone, otherwise I wouldn't care enough to form any opinion at all.
If you're a Dreiserophile, I hope you'll love me enough to forgive me! I'm better than a dead guy anyway.
12:20 p.m. - 2008-03-24