I watched as Humphrey Bogart's character used beans as a metaphor for the relative unimportance in the wider world of his relationship with Ingrid Bergman's character, and chose logic and decency ahead of his selfish emotional desires. The quandary and resulting decision made for an engrossing film. But this was not what people cried about. They were in love and could not be together. I repeated this statement to myself, trying to force an emotional reaction. I couldn't. I didn't care. I had enough problems of my own.
The narrator reflects on a powerful scene from a film where Humphrey Bogart's character employs beans as a metaphor for the triviality of his romantic struggles with Ingrid Bergman's character. Instead of succumbing to his selfish desires, he opts for logic and decency, resulting in a captivating narrative. This decision, while significant, contrasts with the audience's tears over their love that could not be fulfilled.
Despite the emotional weight of the film, the narrator finds it difficult to connect with the characters' plight. His own personal troubles overshadow the romantic tragedy on screen, leaving him indifferent to their story. He repeatedly tries to elicit a response but remains unmoved, illustrating how personal context can influence emotional reactions to art.