An Era of Floating Straws
Most novels contain dramatic plots with clear climaxes. The Mezzanine, however, is about a man’s thoughts on mundane things in his workplace. One of the uninteresting topics that Howie discusses is a straw. He recalls when straw manufacturers began making straws using plastic instead of paper, which he marks as the commencement of the uncomfortable era of the floating straw (Baker 5). Howie continues talking about this ridiculously insignificant nuisance as if it were the beginning of a major historical period (Baker 4–5). By dedicating a large amount of attention to this boring topic, Nicholson Baker shows that boring details—things that we take for granted—are uninteresting because we rarely take the time to scrutinize them and potentially appreciate them.
Howie’s extensive footnote about straws exemplifies how his attention to detail transforms a mundane object into a complicated, interesting one. He explains that paper straws sank in their liquid containers because they absorbed some of the drink, gaining “ballast” that allowed the straw to remain submerged, whereas early plastic straws floated because they did not gain anything from the drink (Baker 5). This explanation demonstrates his curiosity about how familiar objects work, and he does so by reintroducing the straw from a different perspective. I find this footnote funny because of how seriously he scrutinizes a minor problem with straws—things that we normally overlook. Most people might merely notice the inconvenience of floating straws and forget about it. Howie then remembers discovering improved plastic straws that stay anchored to the bottom of a can, and he celebrates this achievement as an increase in quality of life (Baker 5). Unlike most people, Howie consciously keeps track of the straws’ progression from paper straws, to annoying plastic straws, and finally to improved plastic straws. His effort to examine the intricacies of the straw makes the object seem extraordinary and no longer mundane, an effect that is observed with other ordinary things that Howie analyzes in The Mezzanine.
This passage helped me appreciate how many small improvements I benefit from on a daily basis without putting in the effort to learn more about or appreciate them. Keeping a straw anchored to the bottom of a liquid container sounds insignificant, but innumerable innovations like this one collectively improve our quality of life on a vast scale, making our lives more convenient. However, we often quickly become accustomed to these things, causing us to take them for granted. Howie’s approach of dedicating so much attention to the straw—which he uses for many other objects in The Mezzanine—preserves the history of seemingly boring objects that eventually become invisible to us. His approach shows that objects are not inherently dull, but they become so familiar to us that we forget about them. If we replicated Howie’s approach in the real world, we would find many intriguing details in objects that we would otherwise find uninteresting.
Baker, Nicholson. The Mezzanine. Grove Press, 2010.
Abdurrahma I enjoyed your analysis of the straw passage because it highlights something that makes The Mezzanine unique. The idea that ordinary objects only seem boring because we stop paying attention to them is a compelling way to read the novel. I also liked your point that Howie’s detailed examination of the straw preserves the history of small innovations that most people never think about. While some readers might find these long tangents annoying, your post shows how Baker uses them to encourage a greater appreciation for the everyday conveniences that quietly improve our lives. Nice one
ReplyDeleteHey Abdurrahman, I really like your delve into Howie's footnotes and his observations on such trivial objects. I wrote a blog very similar to this and I find the fact that so many people found this aspect of Howie so interesting really speaks to Baker's writing style. He really has a way of taking the reader away from the main plot of the story and on a separate path, whether it be a discovery of Howie or just another rant about the design of objects. He really is one of a kind and has a keen eye. I applaud you for being able to delve into this subject further and I really like how we both came to the same conclusion and wrote similar things in our blogs. Really great stuff here Abdurrahman!
ReplyDeleteI love the way that Baker relentlessly *humanizes* these industries and the people who work in them. As you note, his mind is both that of an artist and a scientist, and he constantly finds himself fascinated by the basic physics of how everyday things work--and he's more aware than most of us of the PEOPLE behind those innovations, the folks at the straw company in research and design who show up to work every day and put their time and energy into solving precisely the kinds of problems Howie is contemplating in these digressions. He has this view of the world where "someone is working on it," and that's the most reassuring thought he could have.
ReplyDeleteHi Abdurrahman, I really enjoyed you analysis on how the mezzanine is anything but a normal book. I think your example of drinking straws instead of normal plot drama really shows this, and how the book is really a collection of thoughts rather than a plot driven book. Good analysis.
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