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Article: He Gave Liberalism A Good Name.(Lionel Trilling )(Essay)
- Article from:
- Newsweek
- Article date:
- October 6, 2008
- Author:
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Byline: Jeremy McCarter
Lionel Trilling wasn't just a critic. He traced--brilliantly--the way our literary and political lives intersect.
When the feuding tramps in "Waiting for Godot" trade insults, Gogo ends the exchange with a slur so vicious it leaves Didi speechless: "Crritic!" He doesn't explain what he means, and doesn't need to. Samuel Beckett assumes that his audience already knows critics are small-minded, mean-spirited, parasitic killjoys (or words to that effect). Speaking as a critic, I see a lot of truth in the description. But not every critic can be depicted that way. Some critics are diligent, bighearted, visionary. Some are even heroes. ...