Scan barcode
A review by worm_food
Cain by José Saramago, Margaret Jull Costa
3.75
Very interesting work, especially considering he wrote it near the end of his life. A bit sad he focused more on how god is crueler than man, rather on the freedom one finds in rebelling against him.
I also found the very early on introduced concept of how sinning requires a spectator that deems an action shameful (Adam and Eve, of course, knew they were naked). And if god as a spectator is cruel, and not omnipotent, how is he fit for the role of the eternal spectator (and thus, arbitrator) of all human action? Wish he went more into that, it's not abandoned after the first few chapters but it's definitely not given a lot of weight. "Blessed are the ones who choose sedition, for they shall inherit the kingdom of the earth" goes insanely hard as a line.
Finally, i really loved the ending. Killing Abel would never come close to killing God. But killing all of humanity exceeds it. What is a God without his followers? What is a shepherd without his flock? God's ego and self righteousness and not taking Cain into account, kills him. "The calculations were correct, but as long as no one say, it was fine" in that final chapter about the ark, insane. Very good.
I also found the very early on introduced concept of how sinning requires a spectator that deems an action shameful (Adam and Eve, of course, knew they were naked). And if god as a spectator is cruel, and not omnipotent, how is he fit for the role of the eternal spectator (and thus, arbitrator) of all human action? Wish he went more into that, it's not abandoned after the first few chapters but it's definitely not given a lot of weight. "Blessed are the ones who choose sedition, for they shall inherit the kingdom of the earth" goes insanely hard as a line.