The endless amount of questions

Honestly, this novel has gotten to the point where it no longer frustrates me; I just do not understand it. The narrator contradicts himself, going on these long tangents that lead into something else. When it finally comes together at the end, there is still a sense of confusion. At first, I was glad that we were learning more about Phaedrus, but then we realize that the narrator is still learning about Phaedrus. It is wonderful to know that he gave up, but gave up on what? He has a wife, two children and a dog, is this supposed to help us? The narrator does not seem to know the full story. He is scared to open the tombs that have been left untouched for so long and he dreads going to the university. He then enters a huge discussion of the university in which you learn and gain knowledge versus the set of buildings and accreditation. I understand his point of view, or Phaedrus’, but for the most part people do not look at a school in the way he thinks it should be seen. Neither of them have control over this fact. Phaedrus mentions how he prefers his students who are failing. They remind him of himself, but when he lectures, he teaches them something he does not believe in. He confuses them because they are trying to learn something he does not agree with and they keep thinking he is a fanatic on the idea. He is only a fanatic because he has so many doubts about reason. I thought this was the most interesting part of the two chapters. People believe in religion, in politics, etc. so faithfully because there is nothing concrete. Even science has its doubts and people love to back up science with fanatical ideas. Science would be thought of as the exception, but this is not the case. I would of thought it would have been the other way around. Why believe in something that you constantly doubt? But I guess this adds to the list of things about the society that confuse me. He goes into detail on the church, criticizing it and trying to make sense of it all. Truth is, it is not possible. I again somewhat understand where he is coming from, but that is something that happens in society and cannot be changed. I have been brought up in the Catholic Church and have seen hands on that the priest who is following God has an issue sometimes with the institution itself. And this brings me to the fact that these two chapters coincidentally brought up the institutions of church and state, with religion, as well as the university. It is the only part I actually understood in its entirety. I have an understanding of fragments, just like the narrator.