Ghostwritten's secret agenda is to offer up eight different answers to the question, 'Why do things happen?' so it has the right to monkey about with time and history. number9dreams's secret agenda is to offer eight different answers to the question, 'In what space does the mind operate?'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author suggests that fictional works can explore multiple explanations for causality and consciousness, granting them freedom to manipulate narrative structures like time and space.
- In plain terms
- Stories can offer many answers to big questions, letting them play with how time and the mind work.
- What can you take from it?
- Narrative flexibility allows authors to explore complex philosophical questions through fiction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What questions does your favorite story answer?
- How does structure affect meaning?
Another view
Not all literature aims to answer philosophical questions or manipulate structure intentionally.
More from David Mitchell
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