Shownotes
n their tenth episode, Steven and Alex explore the trials and tribulations of the autumnal stage of life in their discussion of Barbara Pym's Booker Prize short-listed novel, 'Quartet in Autumn'. Topics examined include: Does the office quartet, with their hesitancy about getting involved in each other's lives, suggest that human beings in general are somewhat reclusive?; What is each character's blind spot and how does it relate to the themes of loneliness, isolation and moral responsibility?; How does Pym portray the challenges of retirement and why might it be a difficult phase of life for so many?; How does the theme of self-deception relate to the ethical question of our responsibility towards others?; What is the significance of the novel's conclusion? How realistic was she in portraying the characters' futures?
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