Despondent State of Human Condition in Funny

¶ … Despondent State of Human Condition in Funny by Anna Kamienska and I Am a Cat by Natsume Soseki

In the world of literature, humans predominate as characters in portraying social realities in the world. This is a common practice among writers, since human experience is best illustrated through the point-of-view of a human; and with every social experience, a subjective interpretation of this experience yields a particular reality that is unique and distinct for an individual. In effect, this process becomes the core of literature -- the documentation of social experiences as interpreted by the subjective writer. However, writers of literature are not confined to human subjects alone in conveying the harmony and conflict that exists between individual and society, as well as human society and the environment. In Anna Kamienska's Funny and Natsume Soseki's I Am a Cat, the writers used the natural environment, in particular, animals, in portraying the state of human society as these animals "see" these realities in their own perspectives. In their works, Kamienska and Soseki portray human society as despondent, where human motivations, behavior, and actions have become futile. The discussion that follow illustrates the despondency of the human race as the animals speak out against humans -- that is, animals, it seems, has become more humane than humans.

Funny details the musings of a bird, asking, "what's it like to be a human"? Kamienska offers her subjective interpretation of the human condition as she experiences it, which is far from the ideal image of humans -- rational, superior, and best of all, free. The author describes being human as "being held prisoner by your own skin," which figuratively suggests how humans are bound by moral and social norms that limits human action and behavior. Comparing it to the perspective of an animal, which is relatively less rational than humans are, this thought is absurd, but Kamienska elaborates more on this statement. The despondent state of human society is best illustrated by the phrases, "captive of your scrap of time," "being hopelessly uncertain," and "helplessly hopeful." Being the most rational and intelligent animals on earth, humans become burdened by the complexities of life, where every second counts and must be spent in a worthwhile activity (determined by society), and humans are expected to excel at everything they do to the point of being "helplessly hopeful." In effect, life becomes less meaningful because of these endeavors, and sadly, humans are in bondage of their own aspirations in life. Ironically, because of humanity's intelligence, they become less free to do what they want and to act as they please; in contrast, the fortunate bird, despite its being less intelligent, is also less restricted, thereby more free than humans. This is exemplified in Kamienska's line where she describes the bird "flew effortlessly up into the air."