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Quote by Djuna Barnes

Work

Nightwood

Nightwood is a complex and haunting narrative that delves into the psychological and emotional complexities of its characters. The story is set against the backdrop of the turbulent period following World War I, offering a glimpse into the lives of individuals grappling with their identities and desires. The novel is known for its poetic prose and its exploration of the nature of love, the struggle for self-acceptance, and the search for belonging. more

Author

Djuna Barnes
Djuna Barnes

Djuna Barnes, an American writer, was born on June 12, 1892, and died on June 18, 1982. She is known for her unique literary style and profound modernist thoughts. more

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“On the whole, the longing for solitude is a sign that there still is spirit in a person and is the measure of what spirit there is. [...] In antiquity as well as in the Middle Ages there was an awareness of this longing for solitude and a respect for what it means; whereas in the constant sociality of our day we shrink from solitude to the point (what a capital epigram!) that no use for it is known other than as a punishment for criminals.”

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“It is this nothingness (in solitude) that I have to face in my solitude, a nothingness so dreadful that everything in me wants to run to my friends, my work, and my distractions so that I can forget my nothingness and make myself believe that I am worth something. The task is to persevere in my solitude, to stay in my cell until all my seductive visitors get tired of pounding on my door and leave me alone. The wisdom of the desert is that the confrontation with our own frightening nothingness forces us to surrender ourselves totally and unconditionally to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

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“গভীর রাতে ঘুম ভেঙ্গে যায় প্রায়ই। ছাড়া ছাড়া অর্থহীন স্বপ্ন দেখতে দেখতে হঠাৎ জেগে উঠি। পরিচিত বিছানায় শুয়ে আছি, এই ধারণা মনে আসতেও সময় লাগে। মাথার কাছের জানালা মনে হয় সরে গেছে পায়ের কাছে। তৃষ্ণা বোধ হয়। বিছানার পাশে পানির বোতল। হাত বাড়িয়ে টেনে নিলেই হয়, অথচ ইচ্ছে হয় না । কোনো কোনো রাতে অপূর্ব জোছনা হয়। সারা ঘর নরম আলোয় ভাসতে থাকে। ভাবি, একা একা বেড়ালে বেশ হতো। আবার চাদর মুড়ি দিয়ে নিজেকে গুটিয়ে ফেলি। যেন বাইরের উথাল পাথাল চাঁদের আলোর সঙ্গে আমার কোনো যোগ নেই ।”

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Book:শঙ্খনীল কারাগার
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