This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
Published on October 12, 2019, by John Mwazemba, this article explores the concept of disillusionment in the context of personal experiences and literature.
Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, had a childhood dream of visiting Athens, a city he had always been fascinated by. He yearned to stand on the Acropolis and take in the breathtaking views. However, when he finally visited Athens with his brother, he felt a sense of disappointment and disillusionment. He wrote, “When, finally, on the afternoon after our arrival, I stood on the Acropolis and cast my eyes around upon the landscape, a surprising thought suddenly entered my mind: ‘So all this really does exist, just as we learnt at school!’”
Freud's experience is not unique. Many people have felt a sense of disillusionment after achieving their goals or realizing their dreams. This feeling is often described as a sense of emptiness or estrangement. It's a common trope in literature that has been explored by writers for centuries.
Meja Mwangi's novel, Kill Me Quick, is a classic example of this theme. The novel explores the disillusionment of the masses after Kenya's independence. Mwangi paints a bleak picture of the masses, describing how they turned into what Frantz Fanon referred to as “the wretched of the earth”. Filled with a sense of dismay, they lived in squalor and dehumanising conditions.
Disillusionment is a universal human experience that can be triggered by various factors, including career, relationships, and personal expectations. It's a complex and multifaceted emotion that can have a profound impact on our lives.
