Its always been my tendency to lie to doctors, as if good health consisted only of the ability to fool them.
In "Jesus' Son," Denis Johnson explores the complexities of health and perception, focusing on the narrator's relationship with medical professionals. The narrator expresses a tendency to deceive doctors, suggesting that he equates good health with the ability to manipulate their understanding. This highlights a deeper commentary on how individuals sometimes view their own health through the lens of social interaction and expectation.
This quote reflects the narrator's internal struggle and perhaps a feeling of inadequacy when confronting illness. By lying to doctors, he may be attempting to maintain control over his own narrative, revealing a profound disconnection between his true state and the external judgments of health professionals.
