The Interview by Christopher Silvester
The Interview talks about the importance of interview. The author considers ‘interview’ a commonplace for journalism. Every literate person comes across it in his life. Famous personalities have different opinions about interviews. Some believes that interview is a source of truth while celebrities consider themselves as victims of interviews. They look at interviews as an unwarranted intrusion in their lives. Orthodox people believe that capturing a photograph meant stealing people’s souls.
V.S. Naipul’s opinion was that some people are wounded by interviews. Lewis Caroll feared by interviews and did not consent to give any. He felt satisfied and amused at silencing all the interviewers. Rudyard Kipling considered interviews unethical and considered them humiliating for a respectable person. HG Wells takes it as an unpleasant experience. Saul Bellow describes interviews as thumbprints on his windpipe.
Eco claims that all his works represent his philosophy of peace and non-violence. Umberto reveals his secret that he works in the empty spaces. Mukund comments on Umberto’s style of fiction writing. He points out that Umberto’s style of writing fiction is quite informal and playful in nature. Eco’s novel dealt with a period of mediaeval history.
Umberto writes scholarly books in the form of narratives. He wrote over forty academic articles and five novels. Umberto admitted he considered himself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays.
Think as you read
1. What are some of the positive views on interviews?
Ans: Interviews are useful means of communication. Everybody who is literate reads an interview once in his life. It is a source of truth. In practice, it is an art and varies in its function, methods and merits.
2. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
Ans: Celebrity writers believe that interviews interfere in their private lives. They regard themselves as victim of interviews. They claim that the interview diminishes them, just like some ancient culture believed that a portrait of a person takes away his soul.
3. What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed?
Ans: In many primitive cultures, being photographed is thought to be equivalent to stealing his/her soul and leaving his/her existence incomplete.
4. What do you understand by the expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”?
Ans: Celebrity writer Saul Bellow who was interviewed on several occasions expressed it as ‘Thumbprints on his windpipe’ which means having been strangulated. He considers it as an assault on his personality because it creates too much tension.
5. Who, in today’s world, is our chief source of information about personalities?
Ans: In today’s world, the interview has become commonplace in journalism. It is seen as a highly advantageous means of communication. Several celebrities have been interviewed. Through the interview, we got complete and true information. By interacting with other people, we got to know about their experiences, views and feelings.
Understanding The Text
1. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
Ans: Yes, Umberto Eco likes being interviewed. He was easy with the interviewer and answered all the questions fully and patiently without showing any hurry or nervousness. He stated his achievements in a very modest manner and explained his philosophical views and interest clearly. He let the interviewer enter the secret about his craft with a loud laugh. He elaborated his approach which was unique.
2. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
Ans: Eco said in life every person has empty spaces and periods with no important jobs. He said that he did most of his writing in his free interests. He explained his working style. He said when he waits for someone to come from the first floor to the second, he does not sit idle, rather he works and writes.
3. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
Ans: Eco's academic writing style was quite distinctive. His non-fictional writing, scholarly work had a certain playful and personal quality about them. It was a marked departure from a regular academic style which generally is invariably depersonalized and often dry and boring.
4. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
Ans: Umberto Eco saw himself as an academic first and a novelist second. He said he considers himself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays. On weekdays he attends academic conferences and does not meet writers or Pen club.
5. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
Ans: 'The Name of the Rose' is a very unique novel with a mystery plot but it also dips its toe into metaphysics, theology, as well as medieval history. It is popular among a large group of readers. Though the actual reason behind its success is still not revealed.
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