人间大炉：查尔斯·布科夫斯基与9点到5点的奴役

人间大炉：查尔斯·布科夫斯基与9点到5点的奴役

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Bukowski's Escape from the Post Office
3. The Gratitude Letter to John Martin
4. The Realities of 9:00 to 5:00 Jobs
5. Questioning the Motivations
6. The Diminishing Humanity
7. The Foolishness of Speaking Up
8. The Vast Layoffs and Stunned Faces
9. The Sad Reality of Being Trapped
10. The Joy of Escaping
11. Continuing to Write Against the System
12. The Generous Way to Die

Introduction

Charles Bukowski, an unknown writer in 1969, received a life-altering offer from John Martin, the publisher and founder of Black Sparrow Press. This offer presented Bukowski with the opportunity to quit his soul-wrenching job at the post office and receive a monthly stipend for the rest of his life.

Bukowski's Escape from the Post Office

Having spent a decade at a grueling post office job, Bukowski faced a difficult decision. He wrote a letter expressing his choice to either stay and go crazy or starve while pursuing his passion for writing. Ultimately, he chose to starve.

The Gratitude Letter to John Martin

Fifteen years later, Bukowski wrote a letter to John Martin, expressing his deep gratitude for enabling his escape from the post office job. He acknowledged the importance of remembering one's roots and how the places he came from shaped his perspective.

The Realities of 9:00 to 5:00 Jobs

Bukowski criticized the notion of 9:00 to 5:00 jobs, highlighting the absence of a free lunch break and the lack of overtime compensation. He emphasized that these jobs demanded unwavering dedication without offering sufficient rewards.

Questioning the Motivations

The writer pondered why individuals subjected themselves to such conditions. Whether it was for material possessions like sex, television, automobiles, or the responsibilities of raising children, he questioned the underlying motivations for enduring unsatisfying jobs.

The Diminishing Humanity

Bukowski observed the gradual erosion of humanity in those trapped in unfulfilling jobs. The fear of unemployment and the lack of alternatives caused people to conform, resulting in a loss of identity, beauty, and individuality.

The Foolishness of Speaking Up

In his early years, Bukowski made the mistake of voicing his concerns to his fellow workers. However, they were unwilling to acknowledge the precariousness of their situation. The writer realized the futility of trying to awaken others to their own potential downfall.

The Vast Layoffs and Stunned Faces

Over time, Bukowski saw widespread layoffs, including the demise of steel mills, technological advancements, and other workplace changes. He witnessed the shock and disbelief on the faces of those affected by these layoffs, their years of dedication seemingly rendering them disposable.

The Sad Reality of Being Trapped

Bukowski recognized that the wages paid by employers were not enough to grant freedom, merely sufficient to keep individuals alive and bound to their jobs. He questioned why people failed to see the injustice of this cycle and pondered alternative paths, such as becoming a barfly or living on a park bench.

The Joy of Escaping

The writer derived immense joy from the fortunate circumstance of freeing himself from such oppressive workplaces. Despite starting late in life, Bukowski embraced the miracle of his escape and continued to write, knowing that he owed it to himself to express his experiences.

Continuing to Write Against the System

Even as an older writer, Bukowski remained committed to writing against societal norms and systems. Writing proved to be a release of frustration, allowing him to explore the disgust and complexities of life beyond the confines of traditional employment.

The Generous Way to Die

Bukowski contemplated the significance of not having entirely wasted his life. Despite the challenges he faced, he believed that even amidst the chaos, there was an opportunity for a generous way to depart from this world.

Article

一九六九年，查尔斯·布科夫斯基（Charles Bukowski）收到了出自黑麦草莓出版社创始人兼出版商约翰·马丁（John Martin）的一个使命改变讯息。这项讯息带给了处境艰辛的布科夫斯基一个机会，可以辞去邮局这项令人饱受折磨的工作，获得终身每月百元津贴。

这位还未出名的作家在邮局工作了十年之久，面临着艰难的决定。他在当时写了一封信，表达了他要么留在邮局疯狂，要么选择在追求写作梦想的过程中挨饿的抉择。最终，他选择了面临挨饿。

十五年后，布科夫斯基给约翰·马丁写了一封感激信，衷心感谢他使自己能够逃离邮局工作的束缚。他承认记住自己的根源，以及与此相关的环境对他的成长与观念产生的影响的重要性。

布科夫斯基对于9:00至5:00工作的存在现实提出了批评，强调这些工作没有免费的午餐休息时间，且加班费用计算上经常有问题。他强调这些工作要求无条件的付出，却没有相应的回报。

作家质疑人们对于承受这些环境的动机。无论是为了物质财富如性、电视、按月分期付款的汽车，还是为了养育子女的责任，他都质疑人们忍受不满足的工作背后的动机。

布科夫斯基观察到那些被困在不称心工作中人们人性的渐渐消磨。对于失业的恐惧和没有替代方案的压力使人们迎合社会规约，导致个性、美感和独立性的丧失。

在年轻时期，布科夫斯基曾经错误地与同事们提起他们的处境可能随时改变的危险。然而，他们对于自己的处境的脆弱性并不愿意去接受。作家明白提醒其他人关于他们潜在危险的无用性。

随着时间的推移，布科夫斯基目睹了大规模裁员的现象，包括钢铁厂的倒闭、技术变革以及其他工作环境的改变。他亲眼目睹了受裁员影响者脸上震惊和不敢相信的表情，他们多年的奉献仿佛让他们变得可以被牺牲。

布科夫斯基意识到雇主支付的工资并不足以让人们获得自由，只能够让他们勉强维持生计并继续回到工作岗位上。他质疑为什么人们无法看到这种循环的不公正之处，并思考其他可能的道路，例如成为一个常醉的酒徒或在公园长时间过夜。

逃离这些压抑的工作环境带给布科夫斯基巨大的快乐。尽管开始得晚，他对于摆脱困境的奇迹感到无比喜悦，并继续写作，知道自己有责任表达自己的经历。

即使作为一个年迈的作家，布科夫斯基仍然致力于反抗社会规范和体制。对于他来说，写作是一种排解愤懑的方式，让他能够探索生活的苦恼和复杂性，超越传统就业的界限。

布科夫斯基思考着没有完全浪费他的一生的意义。尽管他所经历的困境和混乱，他相信即使是在混沌之中，也存在着一种慷慨的死亡方式。

Highlights

1. 查尔斯·布科夫斯基接受了出版商约翰·马丁的提议，辞去邮局工作，并获得终身津贴。
2. 他从邮局逃离后向约翰·马丁写了一封感谢信，感激他给予了自己追求写作的机会。
3. 布科夫斯基批评现实中9:00至5:00工作的不公平性和辛苦程度。
4. 他质疑人们忍受这种工作环境的动机，是否仅仅是为了物质财富和责任。
5. 布科夫斯基观察到人们受工作环境影响逐渐失去人性和个性。
6. 他发现提醒别人关于工作困境的无用性，人们不愿面对自己的脆弱性。
7. 布科夫斯基亲眼目睹了数以千计的人被大规模裁员并感到震惊。
8. 他质疑人们为了勉强维持生计而陷入困境，思考是否有其他可行的选择。
9. 随着逃离困境，布科夫斯基获得了巨大的快乐，并继续以他自己的方式写作。
10. 他认为不完全浪费一生是一种值得赞赏的成就，即使在面临死亡的时刻也能保持慷慨的态度。

FAQ

Q: Who offered Charles Bukowski $100 a month for the rest of his life? A: John Martin, the publisher and founder of Black Sparrow Press, made the offer to Bukowski.

Q: Why did Bukowski choose to starve instead of staying at the post office? A: Bukowski felt that staying in the post office would drive him crazy, so he chose to pursue his passion for writing even if it meant facing financial struggles.

Q: How did Bukowski express his gratitude to John Martin? A: Bukowski wrote a letter to John Martin, thanking him for funding his escape from the post office job and allowing him to pursue his writing career.

Q: What did Bukowski observe about the diminishing humanity of those trapped in unsatisfying jobs? A: He noticed that people's fear of unemployment and lack of alternatives caused them to conform, resulting in a loss of individuality, beauty, and identity.

Q: Why did Bukowski believe that people continued to stay in jobs they didn't want? A: He questioned whether it was for material possessions, such as sex, television, and cars, or the responsibilities of raising children that kept people trapped in unsatisfying jobs.

Q: What kind of joy did Bukowski experience after escaping from oppressive workplaces? A: Bukowski derived immense joy from freeing himself from the constraints of unfulfilling jobs, realizing the miracle of his escape and continuing to write about his experiences.

Q: Did Bukowski believe that he had wasted his life? A: Although he faced many challenges, Bukowski believed that he had not entirely wasted his life and saw value in the experiences he had gone through.

Q: What motivated Bukowski to continue writing against societal norms and systems? A: Despite his age, Bukowski remained committed to writing as a form of release and exploration of life's complexities, rejecting traditional employment and societal constraints.

Q: How did Bukowski view the possibility of a generous way to die? A: He considered not entirely wasting one's life to be a worthy accomplishment and believed that even in the face of death, one could find a meaningful departure from this world.

Q: What was the significance of Bukowski starting his writing career later in life? A: Starting late in life, Bukowski felt a sense of obligation to himself to continue writing, expressing his experiences, and making up for the time he had spent in unfulfilling jobs.