Source “I am not innarested in your horrible disease.”
This provocative statement has wandered through literary circles for decades, often misattributed and transformed beyond recognition. The phrase demonstrates how memorable quotes evolve as they pass from one source to another. Furthermore, this particular example reveals the fascinating world of literary misattribution.
The Origins of a Misremembered Quote
William S. Burroughs never wrote the exact phrase that many people remember. Instead, readers encounter a longer, more complex passage in his 1959 novel “Naked Lunch.” The original text appears in a section called “Ordinary Men and Women,” where a character expresses disgust at sick people sharing details about their conditions.
Burroughs crafted dialogue that captures raw human callousness. His character states: “You think I am innarested to hear about your horrible old condition? I am not innarested at all.” This authentic passage differs significantly from the condensed version that circulates today. Additionally, the original context provides crucial meaning that disappears when the quote stands alone.
How Critics Transformed Literature
Kenneth Turan, a respected film critic, inadvertently created the modern version of this quote. In 1977, he wrote a scathing review of Dennis Hopper’s film “The Last Movie” for The Washington Post. Turan’s passionate criticism included throwing a raw carrot at the screen during his viewing, though he missed his target.
Within this context of extreme disapproval, Turan invoked what he remembered as a Burroughs quotation. Source He presented it as “I am not innarested in your horrible disease,” stripping away the original dialogue structure. This compressed version maintained the memorable misspelling while losing important contextual elements.
Consequently, Turan’s version became more quotable and memorable than Burroughs’ original text. The transformation demonstrates how critics can inadvertently reshape literary works through their interpretations.
The Ripple Effect of Misattribution
Turan’s misremembered citation gained momentum through media repetition. The article appeared in other publications, including the Poughkeepsie Journal of New York. This phenomenon illustrates how misattributions acquire credibility through multiple media outlets, even when original sources tell different stories.
Moreover, academic scholarship contributed to perpetuating variations of this quotation. In 1980, Anthony Channell Hilfer published an essay about Burroughs in the scholarly journal “Criticism: A Quarterly for Literature and the Arts.” While Hilfer’s work provided a closer approximation to the original text, it still contained subtle omissions.
These academic and journalistic repetitions created a feedback loop. Each publication lent credibility to the misattributed version, making it seem more authentic over time.
The Psychology Behind Quote Evolution
Literary quotations undergo evolutionary pressure as they move through popular culture. Memorable phrases become more concise and seemingly quotable as they distance themselves from their original context. This transformation reflects broader patterns in how society creates and disseminates memorable statements.
People naturally gravitate toward shorter, punchier versions of complex ideas. The human brain processes condensed information more easily than lengthy passages. Therefore, Turan’s simplified version appealed to readers more than Burroughs’ original dialogue.
Additionally, the deliberate misspelling “innarested” makes the quote more distinctive and memorable. This quirky element helps the phrase stick in readers’ minds, contributing to its viral spread through literary circles.
Preserving Literary Authenticity
The 2009 50th Anniversary edition of “Naked Lunch” maintained the integrity of Burroughs’ original passage. Editors James Grauerholz and Barry Miles restored the authentic text, ensuring future readers access Burroughs’ genuine voice rather than its various mutations.
This preservation effort highlights the importance of maintaining literary accuracy. Publishers and editors play crucial roles in protecting authors’ original intentions from well-meaning but inaccurate interpretations. Furthermore, these efforts help readers distinguish between authentic works and popular misattributions.
Scholars continue working to trace the origins of misattributed quotes. Their research reveals how literary fragments transform as they pass through different hands and publications over time.
Modern Implications of Literary Misattribution
Today’s digital age accelerates the spread of misattributed quotes exponentially. Social media platforms amplify inaccurate quotations faster than ever before. A single misremembered phrase can reach millions of people within hours, making correction efforts increasingly difficult.
Moreover, search engines often prioritize popular versions over accurate ones. When people search for the Burroughs quote, they typically find the condensed version rather than the authentic passage. This digital preference for brevity compounds the problem of literary misattribution.
Educators face challenges in teaching students to verify quotations before sharing them. Critical thinking skills become essential for navigating the modern information landscape. Students must learn to trace sources back to their origins rather than accepting popular versions at face value.
The Broader Context of Beat Generation Literature
Burroughs’ work challenged conventional literary boundaries throughout his career. “Naked Lunch” shocked readers with its unflinching portrayal of addiction, sexuality, and societal decay. The novel’s experimental structure and provocative content made it a landmark of Beat Generation literature.
The misattributed quote actually captures something essential about Burroughs’ writing style. His characters often express callous indifference toward others’ suffering, reflecting broader themes of alienation and disconnection. However, the simplified version loses the nuanced dialogue that makes Burroughs’ prose so powerful.
Understanding the authentic context helps readers appreciate Burroughs’ literary craftsmanship. The original passage reveals character development and social commentary that disappear in the condensed version.
Lessons for Modern Readers
This case study offers valuable lessons about consuming and sharing literary content. Readers should verify quotations before attributing them to specific authors, especially when sharing content on social media platforms. Quick fact-checking prevents the spread of misinformation and protects authors’ reputations.
Additionally, understanding how quotes evolve helps readers appreciate the difference between authentic literature and popular interpretations. This awareness enhances critical reading skills and promotes greater literary appreciation.
Finally, the story demonstrates why preserving original texts matters so much. Publishers, editors, and scholars who maintain literary authenticity provide invaluable services to future generations of readers.
Conclusion
The journey of “I am not innarested in your horrible disease” from Burroughs’ original dialogue to its modern misattributed form reveals fascinating insights about literary evolution. Kenneth Turan’s well-intentioned but inaccurate citation created a more memorable version that overshadowed the authentic text. This transformation illustrates how quotes undergo evolutionary pressure, becoming more concise and quotable as they move through popular culture.
Moreover, the case demonstrates the importance of preserving literary authenticity in our digital age. While misattributed quotes may seem harmless, they can distort our understanding of authors’ genuine voices and intentions. Readers benefit from developing critical thinking skills that help them distinguish between authentic works and popular interpretations.
Ultimately, this story reminds us that memorable phrases often have complex origins worth investigating. The next time you encounter a striking quotation, consider tracing it back to its source. You might discover that the authentic version tells an even more interesting story than the popular misattribution.