"Almost the first thing I did when I became ill was to buy a truly good television set"

Harold Brodkey's quote, "Almost the first thing I did when I became ill was to buy a truly good television", provides a reflective and somewhat bittersweet commentary on human nature and how people cope with disease and the possibility of mortality. At its core, the quote highlights the profound intersection of modern life, technology, and personal introspection.

When faced with disease, particularly one that might restrict a person or considerably modify their way of life, individuals often seek convenience in familiar or easily available forms of entertainment. The choice to acquire a "really great television set" underscores a desire to get away or sidetrack oneself from the stark truths of being weak. Television, as a medium, provides a window into worlds beyond one's immediate circumstance, using stories, news, and a semblance of normalcy even when one's own life feels disrupted. It permits the private to keep a connection to the wider world without the physical effort that other activities might need.

This action could likewise represent acceptance, a shift towards concentrating on the quality of the present moments when the future doubts. Disease typically removes life to its fundamentals, focusing on comfort and pleasure over long-lasting goals. By buying something that improves one's immediate lifestyle, Brodkey may be expressing a purposeful option to look for happiness and satisfaction in the present, however short lived.

Additionally, the quote reflects a more comprehensive commentary on consumer culture and the role of product possessions in affording comfort. It indicates an acknowledgment of the things that, while perhaps minor in a larger existential sense, provide solace and familiarity in times of crisis.

In essence, Brodkey's choice serves as a poignant suggestion of the small acts of generosity we can extend to ourselves when dealing with life's difficulties: a recognition of the need for comfort, refuge, and a way to cope with the uncertainty that includes disease.