Conversation with Goethe by Donald Barthelme

A Faustian comedy.

Donald Barthelme is often celebrated for his absurdist humor and rightfully so. He's at it again in Conversations with Goethe, showcasing his comedic range when it comes to satire. This story makes a great companion piece to "The Phantom of the Opera’s Friend," with a fun parallel where both stories feature narrators who play second fiddle to someone famous or fictional. This time, we get the inside scoop on what it’s like to hang out with the renowned Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, seen through the lens of a companion-slash-sidekick. Spoiler: it’s not all deep philosophical debates; sometimes, it’s just about buying bread from a local street vendor. 

The story is structured as a series of concise and snappy diary entries, which feel wonderfully random. The narrator reflects on moments with Goethe that are unexpectedly mundane and laugh-out-loud funny. Think dinner conversations where they discuss music, and Goethe casually drops a gem like: “Music, Goethe said, is the frozen tapioca in the chest of History.” Who knew the guy behind Faust could be this funny? Barthelme brilliantly humanizes Goethe, transforming the intimidating intellectual giant into a slightly weird dude who’s just as prone to rambling nonsense as the rest of us.

The story’s success mainly hinges on its comedic rhythm, building up to a perfectly timed punchline. For me, the joke absolutely lands—but comedy is subjective and you mind feel differently about this story if the joke doesn't work for you. I think Barthelme’s comedic prowess really shines here, delivering both the absurd and the relatable with wit that’s as sharp as it is silly.