The Book of Disquiet

Soares walks through the city, studying the architecture. He considers the differences between prose, poetry, and music. He thinks prose is the highest form of art. He muses on various authors he’s read, asserting that reading is no different from dreaming. Art can be “a substitute for […] living” (199) because it lets the artist imagine what he lacks. However, art can be disappointing if the artist is dissatisfied with his work. Soares often feels this way. Art can make him dissatisfied with life; or perhaps his expectations of life are too high.

Soares meditates on love. He examines the various relationships he’s had and how they’ve made him feel. Soares believes that love is exhausting because it requires too much sacrifice and attention.

Soares muses on morality and sin. He chooses several rules for life, although he believes it’s human to feel perpetually exhausted and lazy.

It rains all night. Soares lies in bed listening to the rain on the glass. He dreams of different colors and souls. He wishes he could fall fully asleep, but he remains conscious of the sounds in the street below. His soul is tired and heavy. He thinks about suicide again, still convinced it’s the wrong way to take action.