"While other more foresighted than they had got their money out of Santo Domingo and had gone to New Orleans, or were starting new coffee plantations in Cuba, those who had salvaged nothing reveled in their improvidence, in living from day to day, in freedom from obligations, seeking, for the moment, to suck from everything that pleasure they could find."
(Alejo Carpentier, The Kingdom of This World, p.76-77)
After a terrible series of events, the former plantation owner, M. Lenormand de Mézy has found himself at rock bottom. The once powerful slave driver has lost everything. In search of a fresh start the defeated man stumbles upon old friends with similar plights; power, wealth and family are just a memory. It's here where we find this quote about insufficiencies. It doesn't take long for these men realize they've inherited a great deal of freedom. No responsibilities, no obligations just time to waste and appetites to feed. In a situation where I've lost everything, I imagine myself mourning and lamenting, not chasing every diversion. I feel it's important to understand where this frivolousness is
coming from.
coming from.
Have you ever heard the phrase "mo' money, mo' problems?" If not, that's fine, I'll explain. Mo' Money, Mo' Problems was originally a song by the late Notorious B.I.G. The track alludes to the idea that with more wealth and popularity comes more complications and drama. This phase and accompanying concept have been adopted all over popular culture. I'll admit, the phase "mo' money, mo' problems" sounds silly and is far from sophisticated but the idea is relevant. We hear about money related problems all the time. When we have a lot of money we're required to be responsible and, for many, that's a problem.
As a wealthy plantation owner, M. Lenormand de Mézy possessed endless power but also endless responsibilities. He enjoyed luxuries but was also plagued by complexities. If we can say that more money equals more problems, then it is fair to say that less money equals less problems. This is the liberty that M. Lenormand de Mézy and his old friends found. With everything lost, they were left to enjoy their "improvidence." With all demands tossed aside they were able to find relief. At first glance, this story may seem foreign and irrelevant to us, but there is a lesson to be learned. A life of fortune may not be all that we dream and so our greatest happiness might be found in our insufficiencies.
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