Although I knew enough Freud to believe that the sex urge was an important mainspring of life, it still seemed to me that any conscious manifestation of sex was necessarily ludicrous. Defecation and copulation were two activities which made a human being totally ridiculous. At least the former could be conducted in private, but the latter by definition demanded a partner. I discovered, though, that whenever I ventured this opinion, people took it as a joke.
In his book "Without Stopping," Paul Bowles reflects on his thoughts regarding human sexuality, noting a paradox between societal expectations and personal feelings. He acknowledges the significance of sexual impulses as described by Freud yet finds any overt display of sexuality to be inherently absurd. This leads him to believe that both defecation and sexual acts render humans ridiculous, emphasizing how these natural functions strip away dignity.
Bowles observes that while defecation is a private matter, sexual activity inherently requires the involvement of another person, which amplifies his discomfort. When he shares these sentiments, he often finds that others interpret his serious reflections as mere jokes, highlighting a disconnect between his contemplations and societal norms regarding sexuality. This suggests a broader commentary on societal attitudes toward personal and often taboo topics.
