"I can walk into a bookstore and hand over my credit card and they don't know who the hell I am. Maybe that says something about bookstore clerks"

In this quote, E. L. Doctorow discuss styles of privacy, identity, and maybe a review of societal standards or commercial interactions. On the surface area, Doctorow is explaining a mundane situation: a person walking into a bookstore, buying items with a charge card, and staying unacknowledged by the shop's staff. This image highlights the transactional nature of retail interactions, where the individuality of the consumer is often irrelevant as long as the methods of exchange (a credit card, in this case) stands.

However, Doctorow's choice of words recommends much deeper meanings. The expression "they do not understand who the hell I am" communicates a sense of aggravation or perhaps a degree of self-importance or paradox. This could imply that Doctorow, as an author, anticipates to be recognized due to his public personality or contributions to literature. It raises questions about the worth of popularity or public recognition in daily settings.

Additionally, the declaration "Maybe that says something about book shop clerks" introduces an ironic or crucial observation. While this might be read as a criticism of book shop clerks for their lack of recognition of cultural figures, it may likewise speak to broader societal concerns. It could explain the commodification of personal interactions in contemporary capitalism, where individuals become mere faceless individuals within financial deals, losing personal connections.

Additionally, Doctorow may be showing that bookstore clerks, often viewed as the gatekeepers of culture and literacy, are caught within a system that disregards individuality. This might invite reflection on how cultural factors are taken in and sometimes overlooked within the extremely systems that distribute their work.

In general, Doctorow's quote invites reflection on identity, recognition, and the impersonality prevalent in consumer culture. It suggests that our involvement in commercial activities frequently eclipses our individual or societal contributions, rendering us anonymous in a world driven by financial deals instead of specific recognition or meaningful connection.