Current date's examination: a rephrased perspective
Amid the global coronavirus pandemic, Italian author reflects on the challenged pursuit of literary creation and the evolving importance of simple, humble behaviors. As citizens worldwide find themselves self-isolating and constrained by external obligations, the usual solitary act of writing takes on new meaning and nuance.
For the writer in question, the project of creating "The Great Italian Novel on Coronavirus" seems an impossible task, despite the allure of its simplicity. Writing, as he insists, is not merely a private endeavor; it feeds on relationships, life experiences, and encounters. With the suspension of daily life and the distancing required to combat the virus, the inspiration and motivation typical of writing have become elusive.
The author initially approached the early signs of the pandemic with detachment, viewing the chaos around him with a snobbishness he would later recognize as self-defense. As the virus invaded Italy, he, like many others, realized the presumptuousness of Western civilization's beliefs that such events happened far from its borders. The globalized world has no "other places" in the face of an enemy without a face, and the storming of supermarkets was replicated in countries across the world.
Now that Milan, a city once characterized by its inhabitants' frenetic activity, is emptied and still, the author finds himself primarily concerned with mundane tasks. What once occupied his days – writing, planning, and literary pursuits – are now overshadowed by the necessities of daily life: cooking, watering plants, checking the news, and waste management.
The mandatory self-isolation and forced reclusion have provided a humbling and introspective experience for the author. He finds solace in the simple, humble, and dignified behaviors that redefine what is truly important and what is superfluous. Through these challenges, he hopes that humanity may emerge improved, immune, and more united in solidarity.
In this new normal, the author reflects on writing as more than a solitary endeavor, recognizing its dependence on relationships and life experiences that have been disrupted by the pandemic. Amidst the changed routine, his focus shifts from literature to home-and-garden tasks, such as cooking and plant care, as he delves into personal-growth and education-and-self-development, seeking a lifestyle that values the simple and humble.
