"Kierkegaard Unfair to Schlegel"

As apart of my project to break down each of Donald Barthelme's short stories in "Sixty Stories" ...

#22 “Kierkegaar Unfair to Schlegel”
by Donald Barthelme


Seems to be written as a play, full of short scenes and long monologues. It is not certain who the two characters are, and it appears to be dictated in the form of a therapy session. There is one part where “A” answers “I'm not your doctor” so the relationship between the two is vague and ultimately uncertain.
It is a non-linear plot alternating between the neurotic details of his sexual fantasies, and the neurotic details of his philosophical musings. In particular the concept of 'irony' sits at the center of the story, and his lengthy monologues allow Barthelme to create mini-essays within the text of scenes. He is labels himself an “ironist” and shows how practical the philosophy is in everday matters, as well as applying it to a general view of existence itself. His “oversimplified” explanation is brilliant and shows his genius by quoting Kierkegaard verbatim. Despite his intelligence, he shows his human weakness in his being controlled by his sexual fantasies, which are very ordinary, and when asked if they give him please he responds, “A poor... A rather unsatisfactory...” This ties in with the main discussion regarding his philosophy of irony, when asked if living by the law of irony if that gives him pleasure, again he responds, “A poor... A rather unsatisfactory...” Perhaps showing the futility of knowledge.
The story concludes with a first mention of the relationship between the two characters by “A” stating, “I don't like you.” In the final section Q details a story regarding Pasteur, which impacts “A” who states bitterly, “Yes, that makes up for everything, that you know that story...” We can not know the true meaning behind his feelings because everything he says is dripping with irony, so he either is being sarcastic, or is being honest, but hiding behind his philosophy. The questions Barthelme choses to leave open at the end thus portrays the meaning of the story.