Ever since learning about the whole "Unreliable Narrator" situation Junior year in high school - during the Huckleberry Finn unit if my memory serves me - the whole discernment process has become a theme in my life. Some part of me is driven to determine who the reliable narrators are in various dimensions of life... Friends (who's perspective of life is accurate and who is wearing blurry lenses?), nonfiction authors (I prefer being able to turn off my filter and consume knowledge instead of being provoked to inner debates with the writer), spiritual leaders (who's giving it to me straight, and who is blinded by their own agenda / issues?), etc. I feel like a human filter half the time. I just want to know what is real.
I accused a friend of being an unreliable narrator tonight. He was totally gracious about it, and admitted had in fact been putting a little spin on what was true. It was a good experience in conflict resolution / confrontation / communication, all those C-words that scare the hells out of me. But it also reminded me why I appreciate bluntly honest people. While I still feel the need to consider whether their honesty is truth (or just a totally flawed interpretation), it takes out the intermediate step of determining whether they really believe what they are saying or just posturing. A reliable narrator makes me feel safe and secure.
So, I guess I should take a look at the man in the mirror (eek! i am alone in my apartment and just got freaked out at the thought of seeing a MAN in the mirror, sneaking up behind me!). Right, am I a reliable narrator? Can I be trusted? I'm working on it. "Honestly." But I don't know that it comes as naturally to me as I would like.
From the drafts folder
6 years ago
Did you actually use the phrase "unreliable narrator" to describe that friend? Tell me you did. I love it!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, also. That's a good self-reflection question.
I like it Tash. I am asking myself that question as well.
ReplyDelete