Contemporary Mr. Sommer
Patrick Sushkind Looks at Human Estrangement in Global Era
Do you feel alone, isolated, but busy? Do you find yourself walking towards something, alone?
Story of Mr. Sommer
Patrick Suskind's Story of Mr. Sommer is the perfect portrayal of the contemporary society and human estrangement. The main character in this novel, Mr. Sommer, spends his days simply walking and trudging onwards until he dies one day. It is a very sad story with its own morale. While it is disturbing to read an entire book about a man who simply walks alone until he dies in silence and nonchalance, what this book pinpoints is the loneliness and the sense of estrangement that humans feel in the contemporary era.
In todays' society, being busy is considered normal. If one lives in a major city, it is hard to not find oneself cramming multitude of activities in one day. Sometimes it is nice to simply rest and have a nice brunch with friends in a park. Sometimes it is okay to not be busy all the time. However, in this fast-paced, changing world where being busy is considered to be 'The Way' to advance oneself, it is easy to forget that being busy does not necessarily equate to self-advancement and self-promotion.
Isolation and Alienation
The reasons that bring Mr. Sommer to his lonesome death are due to two elements that characterize contemporary society: loss of human values and an extreme degree of isolation and loneliness. As a result of a quickly changing society where being busy is an admirable trait, individuals become more violent, socially awkward, withdrawn and subsequently, isolated from the rest of the society.
Mr. Sommer kills himself because he walks and walks yet no one cares enough to reach out to him and ask him how he's doing. Perhaps this is the life that contemporary citizens live: their lives are filled with work and places to go, goals to attain - while their inner ego is not achieving any satisfaction or contentment because nobody takes the time to care. Take some time to look around you: see if there is another Mr. Sommer who walks constantly - their exterior brave and nonchalant. Reach out to see if they are, too, simply trudging onwards hoping for a warm, kind hand.
Extend a Hand to Someone in Your Life
In a world where empathy and care is quickly evaporating, it is important for individuals to look deep inside to ask if they, too, are a Mr. Sommer; constantly walking towards something with no solace at heart. Take a day off. It's okay to reach out to people. It's even better to know that there is another person running towards the same goal - offering encouragement along the way.
