A Shower of Gold by Donald Barthelme

Cat-piano.

This blog is not solely devoted to Donald Barthelme, I swear. It just so happens that I have been reading a lot of his work lately and want to jot down some haphazard thoughts while it still remains fresh in my mind. Many of Donald Barthelme's short-stories revel in the absurd and "A Shower of Gold" is perhaps his most explicit and self-reflective exploration of this subject. The absurd is viewed through a satirical and paradoxical lens. The whole world has gone mad and life is filled with absurdity (institutions, bureaucracy and mass media being some of the main culprits) but it can also be a gateway to new experiences, artistic creation and establishing one's authentic self as opposed to accepting an imposed identity dictated  by society. 

Initially, Hank Peterson, a struggling sculptor, is skeptical about such notions when he decides to go on a gameshow called "Who am I?" to earn some extra cash. This bizarre television show aims to psychoanalyze its contestants and expose them as frauds for hiding their true nature. The beginning section is hilarious in its absurdity and highlights Barthelme's ability to infuse layers of meaning into seemingly preposterous scenarios. Continuing the surreal and unconventional theme, a cat-piano virtuoso unexpectedly appears at Peterson's loft, sparking a philosophical conversation on the nature of choices and free will. Peculiarity aside, the encounter proves to be both amusing and profoundly insightful. This is a perfect example of Barthelme's style. 

Despite his earlier aversion to the absurd, Peterson experiences an epiphany near the end of the story: 

"I was wrong, Peterson thought, the world is absurd. The absurdity is punishing me for not believing in it. I affirm the absurdity. On the other hand, absurdity is itself absurd."

Paradoxically, the narrator is mocking absurdity and also championing it as essential to the human condition. He goes on to add: 

"In this kind of world," Peterson said, "absurd if you will, possibilities nevertheless proliferate and escalate all around us and there are opportunities for beginning again."

Here, he rejects a predetermined, fixed and worthless existence for an identity rooted in the unpredictable, nonconformity and the power of imagination. Moreover, Barthelme tackles a lot of complex topics in this story, including myth-making, self-realization, free will, private vs. public life, art theory and existentialism. He even pokes fun at philosophical jargon in relation to nihilistic despair and alienation. For example, the following quote from Pascal is mentioned twice by two different characters: 

"The natural misfortune of our mortal and feeble condition is so wretched that when we consider it closely, nothing can console us." 

If our lives are full of despair and suffering, how does one fill this void and find meaning? I'm not sure if this story has a definitive answer to this question but that's part of the fun when reading Barthelme. His stories are often wacky and very funny but also leave the reader with plenty to ponder afterwards. Still, "A Shower of Gold" feels wildly uneven although there are some parts where the satire and humor is absolutely brilliant.

You can read this story HERE.