How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Donald M. Allen's translation.
Quote #4
Old Woman: "My husband's not really misanthropic, he just loves solitude." (186)
This statement is a bit contradictory. A misanthrope is a person who doesn't like people, who prefers solitude. Of course, we suppose it's possible for someone to not necessarily be totally disgusted with other people and still just want to be left alone. You definitely couldn't call the Old Man a total misanthrope because his goal is to help the rest of humanity. And, if he is to be believed, he's been working in solitude his whole life to craft a message that will bring meaning to humanity. What do you think? Would a person with a true love of other people purposely cut himself off from the world?
Quote #5
Old Man: "I left my mother to die all alone in a ditch." (265)
Well, that's not very nice. However, an Existentialist might reply that it wouldn't have mattered if the Old Man had stayed or not. We all die alone anyway, so what's the difference?
Quote #6
Old Man: "I am not myself. I am another. I am the one in the other." (369)
What might this mean? Does the Old Man feel uncomfortable in his own skin? Is he unsure of his own identity? Is there even a such thing as a personal identity? You could interpret this statement as meaning that the Old Man feels isolated even from himself – and that's about as lonely as it gets.