This also explains why Wallace wrote about 'the depressed person' with such a sardonic tone. This is very evident in the book, especially indirectly through the failure of the hideous men to engender sympathy from the reader, and their blatant inability to practice empathy for others (especially women). Wallace was very vocal about how empathy was the only force that could truly lead to a meaningful existence, because if practiced well, it would lead to a decrease in loneliness that could weaken the despair we feel asindividuals. For a beautiful instance of this, check "Forever Overhead"'s use of detail, ultimately focusing on how no matter how big the diver, the waves from their dive into the pool always stop. It's a little like pointing at everything until finally, it becomes clear that there's actually nothing to point at. Otherwise, the stories only deal with this issue indirectly by arguing around it with circuitous arguments in a maximalistic style.
Wallace's short stories never tackle this question directly, except in " The Depressed Person," except that it ends up engendering annoyance instead of sympathy. There is even a robust, seemingly convincing argument defending rape because it adds depth to the women who survive it. The stories are indirectly told, and they're told through the untrustworthy narrative of the men in question, but even so, most of them feature different kinds of fetishes, different arguments for different kinds of misogyny, and manipulative strategies to make sure women don't catch on to their manipulative tactics. The most central theme in the collection concerns misogyny and sexual misconduct. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.
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