My first experience with The Gutenberg Elegies by Sven Birkert left me surprisingly satisfied. I say surprisingly because I began this novel believing that I would not agree with his biased and uninformed opinions regarding readers in my and later generations. Expecting to be attacked by these ridiculous theories, Birkert’s subtle approach towards this testy subject challenged me to uncover the memorandum hidden within his tales and explanations of excerpts such as “Jude the Obscure” and “Ever After”. One such example of this is found within “Ever After” where Swift writes of how the beautiful, natural melding of the three scenes- the train running along the old tracks, three motor bridges in the distance, and the gleaming motorcar driving through the distance- are suddenly infested by hints of technology. This infestation appears to scare Birkert due to his anxiety that in the future technology will manifest the world of his daughter.
Birkert’s summarization of this “natural” portrait fits perfectly into the idea that technology is ruining the overall picture. These technical advances are preventing us from seeing the natural beauty of the simple forms of technology and it occurs so quickly that no one realizes what missing from their life of technology. On page 17, Birkert remarks, “All around us, already in place, are the technologies that will render it antiquated”. This comment greatly supports his thesis that technology will soon wipe out a person’s desire to read or comprehend a novel of worth. Soon even the “natural” world we see today will be shadowed by even more technology.
Though Birkert placed much emphasis on how technology is preventing us- the younger generation- from experiencing life through influential works of literature, he fails to perceive how many young and motivated readers there are hidden within society. In the second chapter Birkert emphasizes upon his childhood love of reading. Particularly he recalls, “I had no idea of bettering myself. I was simply looking for novels with characters whose lives could absorb mine for a few hours.” After acknowledging his past views of reading in such an accepting way, why, in chapter one, is Birkert condemning those who wish to read solely for the pleasure of it? Does his father’s disapproval of his passion prevent him from focusing on reading to the same capacity?
Disapproval from a parental figure is capable of being so detrimental. I, for one, was never in Birkert’s position. Shamed into hiding within my room for fear of being caught reading or forced to participate in a game of football. Instead, I am able to recall my first days of reading when I played hooked-on-phonics with my parents and older sister, having Baby Beluga read to me at night and later having the treat of going to the book store on occasion and picking out whatever book I wanted. The experiences I had verses Birkert are so different so why does a book still hold within it “the magic- the startling and renewable discovery that a page covered with black markings could, with a slight mental exertion, be converted into an environment, an inward depth populated with characters and animated by diverse excitements” for both of us?
My conclusion is that a book is what one makes it out to be. The young Birkert and I apparently share the unfathomable love for a novel that takes one away to a new century, mind even world. Perhaps because I am fortunate enough to grow up in a different lifestyle full of accepting people my desire to read is not stifled as his has been. I hope my passion for novels never changes as Birkert’s passion undeniably has.
