The author, Chris Kraus, reflects on the inner turmoil caused by recognizing contradictions in one's understanding of emotions and experiences. This realization leads to a sort of intellectual arrogance, where one feels they can claim to know more than the world itself. However, this knowledge comes at the cost of genuine pleasure and connection with true feelings, as they become entangled in conflicting truths.

Kraus expresses disdain for works like Sam Shepard's "True West," suggesting that they attempt to unravel complex human experiences through analysis. She believes that these efforts fail to capture the multifaceted nature of truth, where multiple realities coexist simultaneously. Instead of solving life's riddles, digging deep into personal narratives may obscure rather than clarify the experience of being human.