Tener las expectativas por los cielos con esta obra fue, por supuesto, mi propia culpa. Ya que mi único acercamiento previo a este autor fue La carretera, y en consecuencia pensé que todo iba a tener esa densidad y sustancia. Atribuyo a ese mismo hecho haber postergado la lectura, porque no me sentía preparado.

Esto no es La carretera, no. Y quien se acerque a El Sunset Limited con esa idea estará tan equivocado como lo estuve yo. En este caso se trata de una obra de teatro con reminiscencias de Beckett. Pero con un Godot sobre cuya llegada no sólo hay certeza, sino una hoja de horarios. The play explores deep themes and human nature in a different way than La carretera. It presents a unique perspective and challenges the audience's expectations. The characters in El Sunset Limited engage in intense dialogues that make the viewers think and reflect. Although it may not have the same density as La carretera, it has its own charm and power to move and inspire.

Bellissima lettura ricca di spunti interessanti. It is truly a beautiful piece of reading that is filled with interesting ideas.

However, it can be quite challenging for those who do not regularly read theatrical texts. The language and style might seem a bit foreign and difficult to understand at first.

But once one manages to overcome that initial hurdle, it reveals itself to be a precious gem. The story, the characters, and the themes all come alive and offer a unique and engaging experience.

It is definitely worth the effort to persevere and explore the depths of this wonderful work. Whether you are a fan of theater or just someone looking for a different kind of literary adventure, this reading has something to offer.

Absolutely!
Whether it is for those who think about suicide or those who don't, this novel written like this play is definitely worth reading.

This thought-provoking work delves deep into the complex topic of suicide. It presents different perspectives and emotions related to it. For those who have contemplated such a drastic step, it may offer insights and a glimmer of hope. It shows that they are not alone in their struggles and that there are always other ways to cope.
On the other hand, for those who have never considered suicide, this novel can help them understand the pain and turmoil that some people go through. It can increase their empathy and make them more aware of the importance of reaching out and offering support to those in need.
In conclusion, this novel is a powerful and essential read for everyone, regardless of their stance on suicide.

This little book is really a hard hit. Tight, essential, Spartan in settings, Spartan in characters, no frills, no compromises, as McCarthy has accustomed us to.

There is only one conviction: "either you have a reason to live, 'honey', or the Sunset Limited is out there waiting for you". It passes every day and zips along at one hundred and thirty miles per hour. One man, Black, pregnant with the faith of God, "knows there is Jesus in this room" because he found himself with his body half-sewn up and God saved him; another man, White, knows that "above every joy hangs the shadow of the axe" and "I can't wait to rub my nose against his bony cheek", because "all this talk of God is a load of crap" and the world is just "a leper colony of the spirit".

A dramatic dialogue between these two people, one man trying to save the other. Genius and profound for 108 pages that make you think, really.

To think about the meaning of life. Recommended.

During the conversation, one cannot completely commit to the side of nihilism, for you are a third party despite yourself, and this determination is important here, because it makes you feel that you are actually a party in the conversation. So there are no multiple viewers or many people, you don't know their number, you don't know if there are more, nor different places. There is only one place and there are only two people in it and you are the third.

This feeling prompts you to engage in the game of conversation. You don't deliberately rush to say something or respond to one of them. If you don't say it out loud, it will definitely circulate inside you. And it is important to note that the names of the two people are not known during the film. At the beginning, I didn't find a reason for this and thought that maybe the conversants didn't need to mention each other's names. But I found a deeper explanation than this explanation that doesn't explain anything! I think the reason for more abstraction is that the subject of the conversation is at a high degree of abstraction. It is existence, the extreme of existence, the creator or God, the goal, good and evil, virtue. It is the meaning!

Despite this abstraction that simplifies the subject, it is the closest thing to a human being. Is there anything closer than thinking that you exist? Therefore, the fact that the conversants are not known means that they could be any other person: me, you, he, they. We all form the parties of this existential conversation from which no one can escape.

Our black friend tries to plant the seed of hope or faith in this heart that is eaten by nothingness, and tells his friend about that magical feeling that sometimes haunts you about the beauty of the world and the feeling that everything will end well.

The two parties are only a white person and another black person (I will try to clarify the issue of colors as I understood it later). The white one is Tommy Lee Jones and he is a philosophy professor. Maybe it is not appropriate to say that he is desperate, but he is full of nothingness. He lacks the vision of meaning in anything in existence. Therefore, he tried to commit suicide by throwing himself in front of a train leaving at its highest speed. As for the black one, he is Samuel Jackson and he works in a clinic that takes care of individuals who suffer from despair, loss of hope and anxiety. On the day when the white one tried to commit suicide, he was there and saved him and brought him to his small house where the conversation took place between its walls.

Since the start of the conversation, the white one faces us with his nothingness. When his friend asks him what he is supposed to do with him, he replies, "Why is something supposed to be done?" Because there is no meaning in anything. His being there and saving him means nothing, just as if he had not been there and had not saved him, it would not have meant anything either! And the conversation goes on and we find ourselves in front of the personality of the "modern intellectual". When our white friend is asked by his friend, "Have you read the Bible?" (and he was holding the Bible in his hand), he answers that he has read some of it. The question is repeated and he answers that he has read the Book of Job (which is one of the books of the Old Testament). The question is repeated again and he answers in the negative, although he has read about 4000 books in his life!

This is a clear indication that the holy books are no longer within the interests of the "modern intellectual". He sees in them only fairy tales and old superstitions that reason has sacrificed under the guillotine of science. But what does he believe in if he does not believe in what the holy books say? He believes in culture: books, art, music, etc.

And we will notice here that we are in front of the pillars of modern civilization. This civilization was built on the basis of the liberation of the rational and sensory powers of man. So it produced books in various sciences and contents, art in its different directions, and great classical music.

But even this faith has been lost by our white friend. These things that he believes in have lost their contents, or no one is interested in these contents anymore. They have turned from a source of faith into something that is meaningless in itself. And what is meaningless cannot be a source for him. They do not have enough attraction to keep him attached to the platform without jumping under the train when it passes. And he says to his friend, "Maybe I don't have any faith, but I believe in the train. The things that I believed in are no longer there. And it is stupid to pretend that they are still there. Finally, Western civilization was destroyed and turned to smoke. And I was very disappointed to see that."

Our black friend tries to plant the seed of hope or faith in this heart that is eaten by nothingness, and tells his friend about that magical feeling that sometimes haunts you about the beauty of the world and the feeling that everything will end well. But this idea does not seem convincing to its owner! Then our other white friend asks his friend a question: Why don't you simply accept the idea that there are those who do not believe in God?! He answers calmly that he accepts that! He is asked again why then don't you let each person do what he wants, even if it is suicide?! He answers that God has commanded us not to.

These deep feelings that transcend the apparent religious and social differences and descend into the depths of human commonality, this is what our black friend was trying to explain to his friend.

It is the love that prompts God to care about you. And this love is what he wants to teach us in order to save ourselves and those around us. Our black friend wants to tell his friend that he saved him out of the motives of love and people's desire for eternity, that hope that makes them hold on to the rope of hope, that makes them stick to the platform and not throw themselves under the trains.

These deep feelings that transcend the apparent religious and social differences and descend into the depths of human commonality, this is what our black friend was trying to explain to his friend. But every answer he got from his friend was that there was some truth in his words! And he was trying to find that thing that no human being can part with, that which every individual holds on to until the last breath. He was trying to penetrate the depths of his friend, but the right words were not on his lips! Then the host asks his guest about his world that is empty of love, meaning and faith, and he does not know that he is asking about nothingness! And the answer was as difficult as nothingness itself.

And he finds himself not in front of a person who is afraid of nothingness, but in front of a person who lives nothingness and desires it and does not see anything else in the world! Because the things in which he had faith have lost themselves and their meaning. And everything is going in one direction, which is death and nothingness. There is no coming eternal life, only darkness, silence and stillness. Let the dead remain dead. It is the peace of surrender to nothingness.

And all the splendor of science that adorns modern civilization, and this crazy development, all of it is going in one way. And at the end of this way, the only answer will be discovered, the meaninglessness of anything!

Here, finally, the host allows his guest to leave. After he has persuaded him many times and he has refused, he has lost hope in his ability to help. He sits alone on his chair and cries and blames God, as if he is Christ and he is blaming God from the cross: Why have you forsaken me?! But our friend asks: Why didn't you give me the right words? He felt that the words he was saying were losing their power and meaning and were hitting that hardened heart. But maybe the power is not in the words as much as it is in the heart. And the words are only a stimulus. So when the heart loses the power of faith, then no words have meaning.

The last picture we see is the sun that has risen for us from the window of the room, and the picture remains white until the end.

I mentioned earlier the issue of white and black. I think that the division of roles in this way here has its significance. The white man represents the nihilistic person who is angry at civilization, which, in my opinion, even if it is not directly, indicates the belief that this civilization was built by the efforts of the white man, especially the European. And it is up to this man to discover before everyone else the emptiness of the civilization he built and the degree of the instability of its pillars.

There is an important point that must be noted. The personality of the nihilistic man tells us something, although he does not say it explicitly. It is that the non-existence of God is equal to the non-existence of meaning. That God represents the attractive power around which all values revolve, and it is most similar to the power of the sun that holds the planet around it. Because the non-existence of God means that there is nothing in life that has meaning outside of life itself. And since the end of life is death, then everything, of course, ends with death and nothingness. And then values and ethics (I mean the values of concepts, and ethics I mean by them the interactions of man with man, that is, society itself) collapse.

And this reminds us of Dostoevsky's saying: "If there is no God, then everything is permitted." And also the saying of the French Enlightenment philosopher and writer Voltaire: "If God does not exist, it is necessary for us to invent him"!

Intriguingly, there is a delicately balanced dramatic tension between platonic theism and absurdist atheism.

This urban setting might have misled one into thinking it was the work of another writer. However, McCarthy's characteristic metaphysical commentary is as revealing and omnipresent as ever.

His unique perspective shines through, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

The contrast between the two philosophical positions creates a captivating dynamic that keeps the reader engaged.

McCarthy's ability to explore these profound ideas within the context of an urban environment is truly remarkable.

It forces the reader to question their own beliefs and assumptions, while also providing a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating experience.

Overall, this work showcases McCarthy's talent as a writer and his ability to handle complex themes with grace and precision.

A knockout is an exciting and decisive moment in a competition. It occurs when one competitor defeats another in a single, conclusive blow or action.

Imagine a boxing match where a powerful punch lands squarely on the opponent's jaw, sending them crashing to the canvas. That's a knockout.

Or in a sports tournament, a goal scored in the final seconds of the game to seal a victory. It's a knockout moment that leaves the crowd in awe.

Knockouts can also happen in other areas of life, such as in business negotiations or academic competitions. When someone presents a brilliant idea or argument that completely wins over the opposition, it's like a knockout.

In conclusion, a knockout is a thrilling and memorable event that showcases the power and skill of the victor. It leaves a lasting impression on everyone involved and is often the stuff of legends.

Review to come.

This simple phrase holds a great deal of anticipation. It implies that a detailed assessment or evaluation is即将到来.

We don't yet know what exactly this review will entail, but it could potentially cover a wide range of topics.

It might be a review of a product, a service, a book, a movie, or even an event.

The person writing the review will likely analyze the various aspects of the subject matter, providing their thoughts and opinions.

This review could be beneficial for others who are interested in the same thing, as it can offer valuable insights and help them make informed decisions.

We eagerly await the arrival of this review, curious to see what it will reveal and how it will impact our understanding of the subject.

I have been deeply immersed in the works of Cormac McCarthy these days.

If you are not already aware, he is an exceptionally talented writer.

Just after concluding "The Road", I delved into this one.

"Sunset Limited" appears to be a fragment of a much grander concept that has been steadily developing in McCarthy's rather demented yet strangely tender mind.

His writing style is so unique and captivating, drawing the reader into a world that is both harsh and beautiful.

The characters he creates are complex and multi-dimensional, making them feel real and relatable.

As I read through "Sunset Limited", I found myself constantly thinking about the themes and ideas it presents.

It makes me question my own beliefs and values, and forces me to look at the world from a different perspective.

I can't wait to explore more of McCarthy's works and see what other treasures he has in store for us.

Dang. I can't help but wonder what McCarthy was going through when he wrote this.

The black man is presented as the idyllic form of Christian brotherly love. Bearing with and being faithful to the embittered spirit in postmodernity is indeed the calling of those who love Jesus.

There is no love deeper than that which reaches out to feed the suicidal and loves the junky. It is truly a remarkable and selfless act.

Moreover, there is nothing more like Christ than loving those who you never expect to come to love you back.

I can't help but think that the black man embodies Christ's love not just for the faithful eleven but also for Judas.

This raises the profound question: What does it mean to love those who hate you? It is a question that challenges our understanding of love and forces us to look within ourselves and consider the true nature of our love for others.

Perhaps it means extending grace and forgiveness even in the face of hatred and rejection. Maybe it means seeing the potential for redemption and transformation in those who seem lost.

In any case, it is a powerful and thought-provoking concept that McCarthy presents, and it leaves us with much to ponder and reflect upon.

In a humble room,

its simplicity is only broken by a small radiator in the middle.

Two men are sitting,

one with dark skin,

the other fair.

The first is a believer,

the second an atheist.

The first has found his peace in the sweetness of faith,

while the second sees it as just a drug chosen by the first to ease the harshness of life.

In this small patch of earth,

a wonderful intellectual battle is taking place,

with discussions, debates, and arguments.

Ideas are tossed back and forth between the two,

leaving your mind in a whirl.

The fair-skinned man tried to commit suicide by throwing himself

under the wheels of a train on the "San Sitio Limited" line,

and this is where the name comes from,

and it has other dimensions as well.

The dark-skinned man is the one who saves him,

and this is how they meet.

The dark-skinned man firmly believes that God sent him to save the fair-skinned man,

and he tries to convince him to change his view

and turn to God.

The fair-skinned man scoffs at his ideas

and tries to convince him that he is living in a great delusion.

In the first part of the play,

the dark-skinned man is the more talkative and passionate,

for he has found in faith, and specifically in the teachings of the Gospel,

the solution to any problem,

and the cure for the wounds of the weary and the tortured.

In the second part, the fair-skinned man seems more willing to argue,

debate, and criticize.

He says to the dark-skinned man,

"There are a million ways to destroy the world,

and you think there is only one solution..?"

If the author remains impartial

and does not downplay the importance of one idea over another,

this is where the beauty of the play lies.

The conversation touches on philosophy and politics,

the fair-skinned man throws all the ugliness and chaos of life in the face of the dark-skinned man,

while the dark-skinned man tries in various ways to convince him of the wisdom behind all these things.

All the intellectual certainties of the two are demolished and then rebuilt.

None of us know about the two men

except that the dark-skinned man was once imprisoned

because he killed someone,

but then he repented to God and found salvation in religion.

As for the fair-skinned man, he works as a professor at the university,

and through it, his name and his religion have led him from this life

to choosing death as a way to find peace.

If you thought the book would end with a trite endorsement of one view over the other, think again.

The book ends with the two parting ways without either one being convinced by the other's ideas.

Only each has stirred the still waters of the other,

and each remains as stubborn as a child with his own beliefs.

Kormac leaves you with many questions,

so that you can use your mind and think,

and in the end, you choose the solution that convinces you.

Or perhaps you will remain standing at the stage of the question,

and this is a great stage in itself,

from which you will set off to more distant horizons,

and you will find your goal,

you will find it.

----

Footnote#

The play was presented by Tommy Lee Jones

in a film he directed and starred in with Samuel Jackson.

And the film is no less entertaining than the play itself,

but rather enhanced by the excellent performance of the actors.

McCarthy presents a rather simplistic view.

He offers the old and false binary of religion/life versus nihilism/death. This binary is far from an accurate representation of the complex spectrum of human beliefs and experiences.

Moreover, he makes the old and false association of nihilism and death with intellectuals. This is a baseless generalization that fails to take into account the diverse range of ideas and perspectives held by intellectuals.

Intellectuals are not simply defined by a倾向 towards nihilism or a preoccupation with death. They engage with a wide variety of topics and ideas, and their work can have a positive and life-affirming impact.

McCarthy's view seems to be rooted in a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of both religion and intellectualism. It is important to question and challenge such false binaries and associations in order to have a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the world.