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The only story that seems worth writing is a cry, a shot, a scream. A story should break the reader's heart.
Susan Sontag
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the profound emotional impact that stories can have on readers, suggesting that true art exposes deep human experiences.

Susan Sontag argues that the most valuable narratives are those that evoke intense emotional responses, such as sorrow or pain. She believes that literature should not shun the difficult themes of life but instead confront them head-on, leading to transformative experiences for both the writer and the reader. A story that touches on deep emotional truths speaks to the heart of humanity, reminding us of our shared vulnerabilities and the depth of our experiences.

Themes

StoryEmotionArtWritingHeartbreak

In practice

Example use cases

In a literary discussion about the power of narrative, one might quote Sontag to illustrate the emotional depth required in storytelling.

More from Susan Sontag

Like the collector, the photographer is animated by a passion that, even when it appears to be for the present, is linked to a sense of the past.
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Science fiction films are not about science. They are about disaster, which is one of the oldest subjects of art.
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Gide and I have attained such perfect intellectual communion that I experience the appropriate labor pains for every thought he gives birth to!
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Volume depends precisely on the writer's having been able to sit in a room every day, year after year, alone.
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In NY sensuality completely turns into sexuality - no objects for the senses to respond to, no beautiful river, houses, people. Awful smells of the street, and dirt... Nothing except eating, if that, and the frenzy of the bed.
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It hurts to love. It's like giving yourself to be flayed and knowing that at any moment the other person may just walk off with your skin.
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