"I have always been pushed by the negative. The apparent failure of a play sends me back to my typewriter that very night, before the reviews are out. I am more compelled to get back to work than if I had a success"
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In this quote, Tennessee Williams articulates an extensive and candid reflection on his relationship with failure and imagination. Williams recommends that the experience of failure, or the fear and anticipation of it, functions as a powerful driver for his creativity. Unlike numerous who may be discouraged or immobilized by problems, Williams finds inspiration in them. This notion challenges the conventional concept that success is the primary motivator for creative individuals. Instead, Williams sees value in difficulty, highlighting a tenacity and resilience that are emblematic of a dedicated artist.
The expression "pressed by the unfavorable" indicates that negative experiences, such as the failure of a play, offer a kind of fuel for his innovative fire. This force pushes him to immediately return to the composing process, underscoring a nearly compulsive requirement to rectify the failure, gain from it, or maybe to show something to himself. By highlighting that he returns to his typewriter "before the evaluations are out", Williams emphasizes his intrinsic motivation and commitment to his craft, revealing that his drive is not contingent upon external recognition.
Even more, Williams contrasts this response to failure with his response to success, saying that he is "more compelled to get back to work" after a failure than after a success. Success may bring complacency or satisfaction, while failure produces seriousness and decision. This insight exposes Williams as a figure driven not by the distinctions of success however by the unrelenting pursuit of artistic quality and personal growth.
Eventually, Williams's quote is a testimony to the idea that strength in the face of failure can be more motivating and transformative than the comfort of success. It speaks with the heart of innovative venture, where the act of development itself, irrespective of the result, ends up being a means to continuously progress and engage deeply with one's work.
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