Themes: Beauty
For Paul, beauty is synonymous with life, and he perceives it only through illusions. He believes that "the natural nearly always wore the guise of ugliness,...a certain element of artificiality seemed to him necessary in beauty." Paul feels most alive and comfortable in places like art galleries, theaters, symphonies, and operas. When he admires paintings or listens to opera, Paul experiences a sense of losing himself. His identity dissolves as he becomes one with his surroundings. For Paul, art is akin to worship, with the narrator referring to the theater as his "secret temple." Within the story, beauty possesses tremendous power, enchanting Paul and offering him a sense of liberation. Yet, it can also be harmful, making his everyday life feel "worse than jail."
Expert Q&A
What is the significance of the red carnation in Paul's Case?
In "Paul's Case," the red carnation symbolizes Paul's desire to stand out and his aesthetic sensibility. The flower's beauty, delicacy, and short lifespan reflect Paul's own life and dreams. It contrasts with his worn clothing, highlighting his dissonance with his environment and his yearning for a more sophisticated existence. The red carnation also serves to distance Paul from others and foreshadows his tragic end, marking him as a unique but fragile figure.
Why does Paul, in "Paul's Case," enjoy the theatre and working as an usher?
In "Paul's Case," Paul loves working as an usher at Carnegie Hall because his job makes it possible for him to explore his imagination and forget all about his miserable life at home. After he helps the people to their seats, he is free to enjoy the luxury of the place and the music and to imagine beautiful places, people, and events.
Why is Paul in "Paul's Case" so absorbed by the arts?
Paul is absorbed by the arts because they offer an escape from his mundane, unsatisfying life. His sensitivity, stemming partly from his mother's death and his sense of not belonging, makes him acutely aware of emotional, spiritual, and financial losses. The arts represent the opulent lifestyle of the upper classes, which Paul idealizes. By immersing himself in this world, he temporarily feels connected to the elite he admires, allowing him to live out his fantasies.
Paul's Distinctive Appearance and Behavior in "Paul's Case"
In "Paul's Case," Paul's appearance and behavior distinguish him from others, prompting descriptions of him as abnormal by his teachers. His dandified look, marked by a red carnation, and his defiant demeanor suggest a lack of social conformity. Teachers perceive his actions as contemptuous, and he demonstrates emotional detachment and disdain for authority. Paul's theatrical style and obsession with art and beauty further isolate him, culminating in his tragic end as he seeks escape from reality.
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