,ON ,PAUL ,GOODMAN 

#aifaif 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PAUL ,GOODMAN 

,TEXT 3 

,ON ,PAUL ,GOODMAN 

  

,I AM WRIT+ ?IS 9 ,P>IS1 9 A ROOM AB\T #d' BY #a'1 SITT+ ON A WICK] *AIR AT A TYP+ TABLE 9 FRONT ( A W9D[ :I* LOOKS ONTO A G>D52 AT MY BACK IS A COT & A NI<T TABLE2 ON ! FLOOR & UND] ! TABLE >E MANUSCRIPTS1 NOTEBOOKS1 & TWO OR ?REE PAP]BACK BOOKS4 ,?AT ,I HAVE BE5 LIV+ & WORK+ = MORE ?AN A YE> 9 SU* SMALL B>E QU>T]S1 ?\< NOT AT ! BEG9N+ PLANN$ OR ?\<T \T1 UND\BT$LY ANSW]S TO SOME NE$ TO /RIP D[N :ILE F9D+ A NEW SPACE 9SIDE MY HEAD4 ,H]E :]E ,I HAVE NO BOOKS1 :]E ,I SP5D TOO MANY H\RS WRIT+ TO HAVE TIME TO TALK TO ANYONE1 ,I AM TRY+ TO MAKE A NEW />T ) AS LITTLE CAPITAL AS POSSIBLE TO FALL BACK ON4 

,9 ?IS ,P>IS 9 :I* ,I LIVE N[1 :I* HAS AS LITTLE TO DO ) ! ,P>IS ( TODAY AS ! ,P>IS ( TODAY HAS TO DO ) ! GREAT ,P>IS1 CAPITAL ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY & SE$B$ ( >T & IDEAS UNTIL ! LATE #a#i#fS1 ,AM]ICA IS ! CLOSE/ ( ALL ! F>AWAY PLACES4 ,EV5 DUR+ P]IODS :5 ,I DON'T GO \T AT ALL--& 9 ! LA/ MON?S !RE HAVE BE5 MANY BLESS$ DAYS & NI<TS :5 ,I HAVE NO DESIRE TO LEAVE ! TYPEWRIT] EXCEPT TO SLEEP--EA* MORN+ SOMEONE BR+S ME ! ,P>IS ,H]ALD-,TRIBUNE ) ITS MON/R\S COLLAGE ( 0NEWS0 ( ,AM]ICA1 5CAPSULAT$1 DI/ORT$1 /RANG] ?AN EV] FROM ?IS DI/ANCE3 ! ,B-#e#bS RA9+ MEGA-ECODEA? ON ,VIETNAM1 ! REPULSIVE M>TYRDOM ( ,?OMAS ,EAGLETON1 ! P>ANOIA ( ,BOBBY ,FIS*]1 ! IRRESI/IBLE ASC5SION ( ,WOODY ,ALL51 EXC]PTS FROM ! DI>Y ( ,>?UR ,BREM]--&1 LA/ WEEK1 ! DEA? ( ,PAUL ,GOODMAN4 

,I F9D ?AT ,I CAN'T WRITE JU/ HIS FIR/ NAME4 ,( C\RSE1 WE CALL$ EA* O!R 0,PAUL0 & 0,SUSAN0 :5EV] WE MET1 BUT BO? 9 MY HEAD & 9 CONV]SATION ) O!R PEOPLE HE WAS NEV] 0,PAUL0 OR EV] 0,GOODMAN0 BUT ALWAYS 0,PAUL ,GOODMAN0--! :OLE NAME1 ) ALL ! AMBIGUITY ( FEEL+ & FAMILI>ITY :I* ?AT USAGE IMPLIES4 

,! GRIEF ,I FEEL AT ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S DEA? IS %>P] BECAUSE WE W]E NOT FRI5DS1 ?\< WE CO9HABIT$ SEV]AL ( ! SAME WORLDS4 ,WE FIR/ MET TW5TY YE>S AGO4 ,I WAS N9ETE51 A GRADUATE /UD5T AT ,H>V>D1 DREAM+ ( LIV+ 9 ,NEW ,YORK1 & ON A WEEK5D TRIP TO ! CITY SOMEONE ,I KNEW AT ! TIME :O WAS A FRI5D ( HIS BR\<T ME TO ! L(T ON ,TW5TY-?IRD ,/REET :]E ,PAUL ,GOODMAN & HIS WIFE W]E CELEBRAT+ HIS =TIE? BIR?DAY4 ,HE WAS DRUNK1 HE BOA/$ RAUC\SLY TO EV]YONE AB\T HIS SEXUAL EXPLOITS1 HE TALK$ TO ME JU/ LONG 5\< TO BE MILDLY RUDE4 ,! SECOND TIME WE MET WAS F\R YE>S LAT] AT A P>TY ON ,RIV]SIDE ,DRIVE1 :]E HE SEEM$ MORE SUBDU$ BUT JU/ AS COLD & SELF-ABSORB$4 

,9 #aiei ,I MOV$ TO ,NEW ,YORK1 & FROM !N ON ?R\< ! LATE #a#i#fS WE MET (T51 ?\< ALWAYS 9 PUBLIC--AT P>TIES GIV5 BY MUTUAL FRI5DS1 AT PANEL DISCUSSIONS & ,VIETNAM TEA*-9S1 ON M>*ES1 9 DEMON/RATIONS4 ,I USUALLY MADE A %Y EF=T TO TALK TO HIM EA* TIME WE MET1 HOP+ TO BE ABLE TO TELL HIM1 DIRECTLY OR 9DIRECTLY1 H[ MU* HIS BOOKS MATT]$ TO ME & H[ MU* ,I HAD LE>N$ FROM HIM4 ,EA* TIME HE REBUFF$ ME & ,I RETREAT$4 ,I WAS TOLD BY MUTUAL FRI5DS ?AT HE DIDN'T REALLY LIKE WOM5 AS PEOPLE--?\< HE MADE AN EXCEPTION = A FEW P>TICUL> WOM51 ( C\RSE4 ,I RESI/$ ?AT HYPO!SIS AS LONG AS ,I C\LD 7IT SEEM$ TO ME *EAP71 !N F9ALLY GAVE 94 ,AFT] ALL1 ,I HAD S5S$ JU/ ?AT 9 HIS WRIT+S3 = 9/ANCE1 ! MAJOR DEFECT ( ,GR[+ ,UP ,ABSURD1 :I* PURPORTS TO TREAT ! PROBLEMS ( ,AM]ICAN Y\?1 IS ?AT IT TALKS AB\T Y\? AS IF IT CONSI/S ONLY ( ADOLESC5T BOYS & Y\NG M54 ,MY ATTITUDE :5 WE MET CEAS$ BE+ OP54 

,LA/ YE> ANO!R MUTUAL FRI5D1 ,IVAN ,ILLI*1 9VIT$ ME TO ,CU]NAVACA AT ! SAME TIME ?AT ,PAUL ,GOODMAN WAS !RE GIV+ A SEM9>1 & ,I TOLD ,IVAN ?AT ,I PREF]R$ TO COME AFT] ,PAUL ,GOODMAN HAD LEFT4 ,IVAN KNEW1 ?R\< MANY CONV]SATIONS1 H[ MU* ,I ADMIR$4 ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S WORK4 ,BUT ! 9T5SE PLEASURE ,I FELT EA* TIME AT ! ?\<T ?AT HE WAS ALIVE & WELL & WRIT+ 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ( ,AM]ICA MADE AN ORDEAL \T ( EV]Y SITUATION 9 :I* ,I ACTUALLY F\ND MYSELF 9 ! SAME ROOM ) HIM & S5S$ MY 9ABILITY TO MAKE ! SLI<TE/ CONTACT ) HIM4 

,9 ?AT QUITE TE*NICAL S5SE1 !N1 NOT ONLY W]E ,PAUL ,GOODMAN & ,I NOT FRI5DS1 BUT ,I DISLIK$ HIM--! REASON BE+1 AS ,I (T5 EXPLA9$ PLA9TIVELY DUR+ HIS LIFETIME1 ?AT ,I FELT HE DIDN'T LIKE ME4 ,H[ PA!TIC & M]ELY =MAL ?AT DISLIKE WAS ,I ALWAYS KNEW4 ,IT IS NOT ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S DEA? ?AT HAS SUDD5LY BR\<T ?IS HOME TO ME4 

,HE HAD BE5 A H]O ( M9E = SO LONG ?AT ,I WAS NOT 9 ! LEA/ SURPRIS$ :5 HE BECAME FAM\S1 & ALWAYS A LITTLE SURPRIS$ ?AT PEOPLE SEEM$ TO TAKE HIM = GRANT$4 ,! FIR/ BOOK ( HIS ,I EV] READ--,I WAS SIXTE5--WAS A COLLECTION ( /ORIES CALL$ ,! ,BREAKUP ( ,\R ,CAMP1 PUBLI%$ BY ,NEW ,DIRECTIONS4 ,)9 A YE> ,I HAD READ EV]Y?+ HE'D WRITT51 & FROM !N ON />T$ KEEP+ UP4 ,!RE IS NO LIV+ ,AM]ICAN WRIT] = :OM ,I HAVE FELT ! SAME SIMPLE CURIOSITY TO READ AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ANY?+ HE WROTE1 ON ANY SUBJECT4 ,?AT ,I MO/LY AGRE$ ) :AT HE ?\<T WAS NOT ! MA9 REASON2 !RE >E O!R WRIT]S ,I AGREE ) TO :OM ,I AM NOT SO LOYAL4 ,IT WAS ?AT VOICE ( HIS ?AT S$UC$ ME--?AT DIRECT1 CRANKY1 EGOTI/ICAL1 G5]\S ,AM]ICAN VOICE4 

,MANY WRIT]S 9 ,5GLI% 9SI/ ON SATURAT+ !IR WRIT+ ) AN IDIOSYNCRATIC VOICE4 ,IF ,NORMAN ,MAIL] IS ! MO/ BRILLIANT WRIT] ( HIS G5]ATION1 IT IS SURELY BY REASON ( ! AU?ORITY & ECC5TRICITY ( HIS VOICE2 & YET ,I = ONE HAVE ALWAYS F\ND ?AT VOICE TOO B>OQUE1 SOMEH[ FABRICAT$4 ,I ADMIRE ,MAIL] AS A WRIT]1 BUT ,I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE 9 HIS VOICE4 ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S VOICE IS ! REAL ?+4 ,!RE HAS NOT BE5 SU* A CONV9C+1 G5U9E1 S+UL> VOICE 9 \R LANGUAGE S9CE ,D4,H4 ,LAWR5CE4 ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S VOICE T\*$ EV]Y?+ HE WROTE AB\T ) 9T5SITY1 9T]E/1 & HIS [N T]RIBLY APPEAL+ SUR5ESS & AWKW>DNESS4 ,:AT HE WROTE WAS A N]VY MIXTURE ( SYNTACTICAL /IFFNESS & V]BAL FELICITY2 HE WAS CAPABLE ( WRIT+ S5T5CES ( A WOND]FUL PURITY ( /YLE & VIVACITY ( LANGUAGE1 & ALSO CAPABLE ( WRIT+ SO SLOPPILY & CLUMSILY ?AT ONE IMAG9$ HE MU/ BE DO+ IT ON PURPOSE4 ,BUT IT NEV] MATT]$4 ,IT WAS HIS VOICE1 ?AT IS TO SAY1 HIS 9TELLIG5CE & ! POETRY ( HIS 9TELLIG5CE 9C>NAT$1 :I* KEPT ME A LOYAL & PASSIONATE ADDICT4 ,?\< HE WAS NOT (T5 GRACEFUL AS A WRIT]1 HIS WRIT+ & HIS M9D W]E T\*$ ) GRACE4 

,!RE IS A T]RIBLE1 MEAN ,AM]ICAN RES5TM5T T[>D SOMEONE :O TRIES TO DO A LOT ( ?+S4 ,! FACT ?AT ,PAUL ,GOODMAN WROTE POETRY & PLAYS & NOVELS AS WELL AS SOCIAL CRITICISM1 ?AT HE WROTE BOOKS ON 9TELLECTUAL SPECIALTIES GU>D$ BY ACADEMIC & PR(ESSIONAL DRAGONS1 SU* AS CITY PLANN+1 $UCATION1 LIT]>Y CRITICISM1 PSY*IATRY1 WAS HELD AGA9/ HIM4 ,HIS BE+ AN ACADEMIC FREELOAD] & AN \TLAW PSY*IATRI/1 :ILE ALSO BE+ SO SM>T AB\T UNIV]SITIES & HUMAN NATURE1 \TRAG$ MANY PEOPLE4 ,?AT +RATITUDE IS & ALWAYS WAS A/ONI%+ TO ME4 ,I KN[ ?AT ,PAUL ,GOODMAN (T5 COMPLA9$ ( IT4 ,P]HAPS ! MO/ POIGNANT EXPRESSION WAS 9 ! J\RNAL HE KEPT BETWE5 #aiee & #a#i#f1 PUBLI%$ AS ,FIVE ,YE>S1 9 :I* HE LAM5TS ! FACT ?AT HE IS NOT FAM\S1 NOT RECOGNIZ$ & REW>D$ = :AT HE IS4 

,?AT J\RNAL WAS WRITT5 AT ! 5D ( HIS LONG OBSCURITY1 = ) ! PUBLICATION ( ,GR[+ ,UP ,ABSURD 9 #aif HE DID BECOME FAM\S1 & FROM !N ON HIS BOOKS HAD A WIDE CIRCULATION &1 ONE IMAG9ES1 W]E EV5 WIDELY READ--IF ! EXT5T TO :I* ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S IDEAS W]E REPEAT$ 7)\T HIS BE+ GIV5 ANY CR$IT7 IS ANY PRO( ( BE+ WIDELY READ4 ,FROM #aif ON1 HE />T$ MAK+ MONEY ?R\< BE+ TAK5 MORE S]I\SLY--& HE WAS LI/5$ TO BY ! Y\NG4 ,ALL ?AT SEEMS TO HAVE PLEAS$ HIM1 ?\< HE /ILL COMPLA9$ ?AT HE WAS NOT FAM\S 5\<1 NOT READ 5\<1 NOT APPRECIAT$ 5\<4 

,F> FROM BE+ AN EGOMANIAC :O C\LD NEV] GET 5\<1 ,PAUL ,GOODMAN WAS QUITE RI<T 9 ?9K+ ?AT HE NEV] HAD ! ATT5TION HE DES]V$4 ,?AT COMES \T CLE>LY 5\< 9 ! OBITU>IES ,I HAVE READ S9CE HIS DEA? 9 ! HALF-DOZ5 ,AM]ICAN NEWSPAP]S & MAGAZ9ES ?AT ,I GET H]E 9 ,P>IS4 ,9 !SE OBITU>IES HE IS NO MORE ?AN ?AT MAV]ICK 9T]E/+ WRIT] :O SPREAD HIMSELF TOO ?91 :O PUBLI%$ ,GR[+ ,UP ,ABSURD1 :O 9FLU5C$ ! REBELLI\S ,AM]ICAN Y\? ( ! #a#i#fS1 :O WAS 9DISCREET AB\T HIS SEXUAL LIFE4 ,N$ ,ROREM'S T\*+ OBITU>Y1 ! ONLY ONE ,I HAVE READ ?AT GIVES ANY S5SE ( ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S IMPORTANCE1 APPE>$ 9 ! ,VILLAGE ,VOICE1 A PAP] READ BY A L>GE P>T ( ,PAUL ,GOODMAN'S CON/ITU5CY1 ONLY ON PAGE #a#g4 ,AS ! ASSESSM5TS COME 9 N[ ?AT HE IS DEAD1 HE IS BE+ TREAT$ AS A M>G9AL FIGURE4 

,I W\LD H>DLY HAVE WI%$ = ,PAUL ,GOODMAN ! K9D ( M$IA />DOM AW>D$ TO ,MC,LUHAN OR EV5 ,M>CUSE--:I* HAS LITTLE TO DO ) ACTUAL 9FLU5CE OR EV5 TELLS ONE ANY?+ AB\T H[ MU* A WRIT] IS BE+ READ4 ,:AT ,I AM COMPLA9+ AB\T IS ?AT ,PAUL ,GOODMAN WAS (T5 TAK5 = GRANT$ EV5 BY HIS ADMIR]S4 ,IT HAS NEV] BE5 CLE> TO MO/ PEOPLE1 ,I ?9K1 :AT AN EXTRAORD9>Y FIGURE HE WAS4 ,HE C\LD DO ALMO/ ANY?+1 & TRI$ TO DO ALMO/ EV]Y?+ A WRIT] CAN DO4 ,?\< HIS FICTION BECAME 9CREAS+LY DIDACTIC & UNPOETIC1 HE CONT9U$ TO GR[ AS A POET ( CONSID]ABLE & 5TIRELY UNFA%IONABLE S5SIBILITY2 ONE DAY PEOPLE WILL DISCOV] :AT GOOD POETRY HE WROTE4 ,MO/ ( :AT HE SAID 9 HIS ESSAYS AB\T PEOPLE1 CITIES1 & ! FEEL ( LIFE IS TRUE4 ,HIS SO-CALL$ AMATEURISM IS ID5TICAL ) HIS G5IUS3 ?AT AMATEURISM 5ABL$ HIM TO BR+ TO ! QUE/IONS ( S*OOL+1 PSY*IATRY1 & CITIZ5%IP AN EXTRAORD9>Y1 CURMUDGEONLY ACCURACY ( 9SI<T & FRE$OM TO 5VISAGE PRACTICAL *ANGE4 

,IT IS DIFFICULT TO NAME ALL ! WAYS 9 :I* ,I FEEL 9DEBT$ TO HIM4 ,= TW5TY YE>S HE HAS BE5 TO ME QUITE SIMPLY ! MO/ IMPORTANT ,AM]ICAN WRIT]4 ,HE WAS \R ,S>TRE1 \R ,COCTEAU4 ,HE DID NOT HAVE ! FIR/-CLASS !ORETICAL 9TELLIG5CE ( ,S>TRE2 HE NEV] T\*$ ! MAD1 OPAQUE S\RCE ( G5U9E FANTASY ?AT ,COCTEAU HAD AT HIS DISPOSAL 9 PRACTIC+ SO MANY >TS4 ,BUT HE HAD GIFTS ?AT NEI!R ,S>TRE NOR ,COCTEAU EV] HAD3 A G5U9E FEEL+ = :AT HUMAN LIFE IS AB\T1 A FA/IDI\SNESS & BREAD? ( MORAL PASSION4 ,HIS VOICE ON ! PR9T$ PAGE IS REAL TO ME AS ! VOICES ( FEW WRIT]S HAVE EV] BE5--FAMILI>1 5DE>+1 EXASP]AT+4 ,I SUSPECT !RE WAS A NOBL] HUMAN BE+ 9 HIS BOOKS ?AN 9 HIS LIFE1 SOME?+ ?AT HAPP5S (T5 9 0LIT]ATURE40 7,SOMETIMES IT IS ! O!R WAY >\ND1 & ! P]SON 9 REAL LIFE IS NOBL] ?AN ! P]SON 9 ! BOOKS4 ,SOMETIMES1 AS 9 ! CASE ( ,SADE1 !RE IS H>DLY ANY RELATION%IP BETWE5 ! P]SON 9 ! BOOKS & ! P]SON 9 REAL LIFE47 

,I ALWAYS GOT 5]GY FROM READ+ ,PAUL ,GOODMAN4 ,HE WAS ONE ( ?AT SMALL COMPANY ( WRIT]S1 LIV+ & DEAD1 :O E/ABLI%$ = ME ! VALUE ( BE+ A WRIT] & FROM :OSE WORK ,I DREW ! /&>DS BY :I* ,I MEASUR$ MY [N4 ,!RE HAVE BE5 SOME LIV+ ,EUROPEAN WRIT]S 9 ?AT DIV]SE & V]Y P]SONAL PAN!ON1 BUT NO LIV+ ,AM]ICAN WRIT] AP>T FROM HIM4 

,EV]Y?+ HE DID ON PAP] PLEAS$ ME4 ,I LIK$ IT :5 HE WAS PIG-HEAD$1 AWKW>D1 WI/FUL1 EV5 WRONG4 ,HIS EGOTISM T\*$ ME RA!R ?AN PUT ME (F 7AS ,MAIL]'S (T5 DOES :5 ,I READ HIM74 ,I ADMIR$ HIS DILIG5CE1 HIS WILL+NESS TO S]VE4 ,I ADMIR$ HIS C\RAGE1 :I* %[$ ITSELF 9 SO MANY WAYS--ONE ( ! MO/ ADMIRABLE BE+ HIS HONE/Y AB\T HIS HOMO-SEXUALITY 9 ,FIVE ,YE>S1 = :I* HE WAS MU* CRITICIZ$ BY HIS /RAI<T FRI5DS 9 ! ,NEW ,YORK 9TELLECTUAL WORLD2 ?AT WAS SIX YE>S AGO1 BE=E ! ADV5T ( ,GAY ,LIB]ATION MADE COM+ \T ( ! CLOSET *IC4 ,I LIK$ IT :5 HE TALK$ AB\T HIMSELF & :5 HE M+L$ HIS [N SAD SEXUAL DESIRES ) HIS DESIRE = ! POLITY4 ,LIKE ,&RE ,BRETON1 TO :OM HE C\LD BE COMP>$ 9 MANY WAYS1 ,PAUL ,GOODMAN WAS A CONNOISSEUR ( FRE$OM1 JOY1 PLEASURE4 ,I LE>N$ A LOT AB\T ?OSE ?REE ?+S FROM READ+ HIM4 

,?IS MORN+1 />T+ TO WRITE ?IS1 ,I REA*$ UND] ! TABLE BY ! W9D[ TO GET SOME PAP] = ! TYPEWRIT] & SAW ?AT ONE ( ! TWO OR ?REE PAP]BACK BOOKS BURI$ UND] ! MANUSCRIPTS IS ,NEW ,RE=MATION4 ,AL?\< ,I AM TRY+ TO LIVE = A YE> )\T BOOKS1 A FEW MANAGE TO CREEP 9 SOMEH[4 ,IT SEEMS FITT+ ?AT EV5 H]E1 9 ?IS T9Y ROOM :]E BOOKS >E =BIDD51 :]E ,I TRY BETT] TO HE> MY [N VOICE & DISCOV] :AT ,I REALLY ?9K & REALLY FEEL1 !RE IS /ILL AT LEA/ ONE BOOK BY ,PAUL ,GOODMAN >\ND1 = !RE HAS NOT BE5 AN AP>TM5T 9 :I* ,I HAVE LIV$ = ! LA/ TW5TY-TWO YE>S ?AT HAS NOT CONTA9$ MO/ ( HIS BOOKS4 

,) OR )\T HIS BOOKS1 ,I %ALL GO ON BE+ M>K$ BY HIM4 ,I %ALL GO ON GRIEV+ ?AT HE IS NO LONG] ALIVE TO TALK 9 NEW BOOKS1 & ?AT N[ WE ALL HAVE TO GO ON 9 \R FUMBL+ ATTEMPTS TO HELP EA* O!R & TO SAY :AT IS TRUE & TO RELEASE :AT POETRY WE HAVE & TO RESPECT EA* O!R'S MADNESS & RI<T TO BE WRONG & TO CULTIVATE \R S5SE ( CITIZ5L9ESS )\T ,PAUL'S HECTOR+1 )\T ,PAUL'S PATI5T ME&]+ EXPLANATIONS ( EV]Y?+1 )\T ! GRACE ( ,PAUL'S EXAMPLE4 

--,S,U,S,A,N ,S,O,N,T,A,G  

,SEPTEMB] #b#a1 #aigb 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aiei 3 ,ON ,PAUL ,GOODMAN -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bba 3 ,ON ,PAUL ,GOODMAN -- ,ADD$4 

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