# XIII: Suggesting Themes of Universal Appeal explained — The Cream of the Jest

> Chapter companion for The Cream of the Jest by James Branch Cabell.

## What happens

Felix Kennaston observes the public reception of his novel 'Men Who Loved Alison' with a mixture of amusement and disappointment, noting that only riffraff seem to respond while cultured readers remain silent. He and his wife Kathleen engage in a domestic exchange that reveals her practical concerns and his frustration with her lack of appreciation for his artistic work, culminating in a reflection on the difficulty of conversing with one's spouse.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dream vs. Reality

Kennaston's idealized artistic vision is contrasted with the mundane reality of household disputes and his wife's preference for 'real life' in literature.

### Disillusionment and Cynicism

Kennaston is disillusioned by the vulgar reception of his book and the lack of meaningful conversation with his wife, leading to cynical reflections on human nature.

## Character check-ins

### Felix Kennaston

Reflects on the vulgarization of his dream and the drollery of public notoriety; engages in a tense breakfast conversation with his wife about his book and domestic trivialities.

### Mrs. Kennaston

Reacts to Kennaston's success with practical concerns, suggests he write about real life, and deflects his philosophical musings with talk of household matters and social snubs.

## Key lines

> People never want to be told anything they do not believe already. Yet I quite fail to see why, in books or elsewhere, anyone should wish to be reminded of what human life is actually like. For living is the one art in which mankind has never achieved distinction.

Kennaston argues that readers prefer familiar ideas and that human life is poorly executed as an art form, so why dwell on its flaws?

_Kennaston's philosophical reflection on the nature of art and life, contrasting with his wife's practical concerns._

> Some day, I shall certainly write a paper upon The Lost Art of Conversing with One's Wife. Its appeal, I think, would be universal.

Kennaston muses that meaningful conversation with his wife is impossible, a theme he believes many would relate to.

_Kennaston's rueful observation about the gap between his intellectual interests and domestic reality._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se/chapters/xiii-suggesting-themes-of-universal-appeal
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cream_of_the_jest_se/chapters