Author: LYDIA MISSEY

Nobody

On By LYDIA MISSEYIn Music, Music Poetry, PoetryLeave a comment

In Nobody by Mitski, from her album Be The Cowboy, her poetic language invites the audience to reflect on the human experiences of loneliness and desire.

Her song follows the natural flow of consciousness of someone having a breakdown. At the beginning of the song her thoughts and words are very concise:

My god I’m so lonely

So I open the window

To hear sounds of people

To hear sounds of people

Though she is upset she still recognizes and can clearly verbalize her feelings. The repetition of “to hear sounds of people” emphasizes her loneliness, as she is so desperate to be a part of other’s lives that it means something just to hear them.

As the song progresses, her desperation becomes more clear as she sings

And I don’t want your pity

I just want somebody near me

Her choice of the word “near” rather than “next to” or “with” accentuates her intense longing for someone else, as she would settle for someone being around her even if not with her.

She uses the word “nobody” throughout the song, both referring to herself as nobody and the presence of nobody in her life. She repeats the word frequently to portray how overwhelming her feelings are. The song ends with the constant repetition of nothing but this word, mimicking the flow of a person crying as their thoughts and rationalizations break down over time. This lack of closure mirrors the unpredictable nature of human emotions and allows the audience to come to their own conclusions.

The meaning of life doesn’t matter.

On By LYDIA MISSEYIn Albert Camus, Existentialism, Stranger8 Comments

Focusing on the meaning of life does not add substance to one’s life, instead, it may take that away. The novel The Stranger, written by absurdist philosopher Abert Camus, emphasizes that while pondering the meaning of life through philosophical lenses can bring a person a sense of peace or acceptance, it muddles their ability to feel to the fullest and clouds their experiences.

The novel’s main character, Meursault, lives his life through the ideals of existentialism and absurdism. He constantly reflects that nothing matters, leading him to live in a state of indifference. This indifference stops him from connecting with both his emotions and the emotions of others, which then further clouds his experiences by becoming a barrier to forging meaningful relationships. Some may say, “Oh! But what about that time Mersault was so happy frolicking on the beach with his girlfriend”, but Mersault never shows any actual depth or emotional fulfillment aside from his physical and sexual desires.

Not only does Meursault hinder his own experiences because of his philosophy, but society shuts him down. Meursault’s unconventional way of living and seeing the world isolates him from society. His lack of anticipation, goals, and aspirations stops him from thinking about, or at least caring for the future. He kills a man, holds no remorse, goes to prison, and later as a result of his apathy, is subject to execution.

While Meursault’s acceptance of life may bring him peace, it drives him far from happiness or any full emotions at all.