The reader! You, dogged, uninsultable, print-oriented bastard, it's you I'm addressing, who else, from inside this monstrous fiction. You've read me this far, then? Even this far? For what discreditable motive? How is it you don't go to a movie, watch TV, stare at a wall, play tennis with a friend, make amorous advances to the person who comes to your mind when I speak of amorous advances? Can nothing surfeit, saturate you, turn you off? Where's your shame?
In "Lost in the Funhouse," John Barth directly addresses the reader, creating a unique and engaging dialogue. He questions the motivations of the reader for continuing through the text, suggesting an almost absurd commitment to printed words over myriad distractions available in modern life. This address evokes a sense of both intimacy and introspection, prompting readers to reflect on their own motivations for engaging with literature.
Barth's tone blends humor with a critique of the reader’s choices, challenging them to consider why they neglect other forms of entertainment. He provocatively asks if nothing can truly satisfy or distract them while questioning their persistence in the face of so many alternatives. This creates a playful tension, emphasizing the often overlooked value of reading and the complexities of the reader's relationship with the narrative.