Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of something, something alive. A man can cry over a sick animal that he knows won't make it. The death of a child: a man can cry for that. But not because things are sad.A man, he thought, cries not for the future or the past but for the present.
In Philip K. Dick's "Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said," the character reflects on the nature of a man's tears, distinguishing them from a woman's. He contemplates that a man's crying does not stem from sentimentality, but rather from a profound sense of loss. Men cry over tangible losses, such as the death of a child or the suffering of an animal, highlighting their connection to the present moment rather than past regrets or future fears.
This introspection reveals that for men, tears are often a response to immediate, heart-wrenching experiences. The character emphasizes that crying is not a weakness but a natural expression of grief for what is alive and meaningful. This perspective invites readers to understand the deeper emotional landscape of masculinity, suggesting that vulnerability can manifest in unexpected ways, linked closely to the realities of life and loss.
