A Guy Riding the Escalator + the Meaning of Life?

    What makes a book a book? When one thinks of average literature, the theme is a key element that comes to mind. A main theme in The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker, is difficult to discern if there is any at all. In 5th period we discussed what Baker might be trying to convey with this novel. Some ideas we brainstormed were the appreciation of trivial things, nostalgia, and being comfortable alone. Many of us seemed to have come to the conclusion of a positive message.

    Our class's most recent discussion was centered around the relation of Aurelius's statements and the book. Aurelius, according to Howie, possesses "unrelenting and morbid self-denial" (Baker 124). The placement of the excerpts from Aurelius's book is particularly jarring. Throughout the book, the reader gets hints of Howie feeling trapped in his cycle of corporate work and everyday life. However, he glosses over these thoughts very quickly and it is easily forgotten. So, when Howie got upset by the excerpt, I was prompted to think about him as an actual person in the world--an average, forgettable corporate worker. Is Baker using Howie as an example of a meaningful life? Or the opposite? 

    To be honest, thinking about these questions hurts my brain. I have decided that my interpretation of the theme is evoking thought. As Mr. Mitchell mentioned many times, this book can effect your perspective on life. Even if I choose to quickly move on from the contents of The Mezzanine, the narrator's ability to notice 135 pages of details and memories from his journey up an escalator, certainly made a lasting impression on me. Not only is Howie incredibly absorbed in the present, he is hyper-aware of how his past has affected the person he is.