This started off as a bit of a joke, off the top of my head... but I immediately got a lot of imagery with it and wanted to see how it developed into a deceptively simple story. I imagine "Paul" as a boy of between 8-12yo, in pyjamas and dressing gown (think the boy in, "The Snowman", but a little younger).
It's set in a different reality, and that's the point. It's about perception. It's about the world and how we see it, and what we don't see, our expectations, and what we make of it all.
Paul is invisible to the world, despite all the questions raised about how he lives (compared to our shared reality). We pick up that he observant and imaginative. In my mind it's the people in the mall he sees crawling, and he compares them to insects, and it's also about him noticing and being interested in an arguably insignificant, lower species. I like things to be ambiguous at times, but sometimes I leave things too wide open. Whatever works for you, is fine.
Paul is happy in a simple and honest life, people-watching and writing his observations, before reporting back to his alter-ego on the wall. He seems lonely to the onlooker, but he doesn't show any frustration directly - although there is a clue to some unhappiness with what he's seeing. Maybe he's happier in his little world, eh?
The, "big old world" line might seem a bit throwaway, but it's my way of putting a judgmental voice in there; it's not Paul who says he's lonely, or feeling invisible, or vulnerable (or whatever the reader's interpretation is)but the voice of the piece. Everyone has an opinion. We look at everything (or we don't) and make a judgment about what we're seeing (or not seeing). We don't actually get Paul's point of view, and only the reader knows their own personal point of view (although there must be a shared view, obviously), and we also get the view of the 'voice' of the piece. Basically, the idea is to question reality, our own perception, our shared perceptions, what we choose to interpret and what we choose to believe. Or else you could look at it as a simple, odd, little story.
When I read this to the eponymous(?) Paul.... he liked it (esp when I explained the imagery), but thought the interpretation was too convoluated (to the point of pretentiousness, although he denied that!) to find. So, I'm wondering how you, the reader, interprets it. Please be kind.... honest, but kind...!
It's set in a different reality, and that's the point. It's about perception. It's about the world and how we see it, and what we don't see, our expectations, and what we make of it all.
Paul is invisible to the world, despite all the questions raised about how he lives (compared to our shared reality). We pick up that he observant and imaginative. In my mind it's the people in the mall he sees crawling, and he compares them to insects, and it's also about him noticing and being interested in an arguably insignificant, lower species. I like things to be ambiguous at times, but sometimes I leave things too wide open. Whatever works for you, is fine.
Paul is happy in a simple and honest life, people-watching and writing his observations, before reporting back to his alter-ego on the wall. He seems lonely to the onlooker, but he doesn't show any frustration directly - although there is a clue to some unhappiness with what he's seeing. Maybe he's happier in his little world, eh?
The, "big old world" line might seem a bit throwaway, but it's my way of putting a judgmental voice in there; it's not Paul who says he's lonely, or feeling invisible, or vulnerable (or whatever the reader's interpretation is)but the voice of the piece. Everyone has an opinion. We look at everything (or we don't) and make a judgment about what we're seeing (or not seeing). We don't actually get Paul's point of view, and only the reader knows their own personal point of view (although there must be a shared view, obviously), and we also get the view of the 'voice' of the piece. Basically, the idea is to question reality, our own perception, our shared perceptions, what we choose to interpret and what we choose to believe. Or else you could look at it as a simple, odd, little story.
When I read this to the eponymous(?) Paul.... he liked it (esp when I explained the imagery), but thought the interpretation was too convoluated (to the point of pretentiousness, although he denied that!) to find. So, I'm wondering how you, the reader, interprets it. Please be kind.... honest, but kind...!
His name is Paul and he lives in a Hall.
There’s a painted picture of his friend on the wall.
He waits by the phone but there’s never a call.
He doesn’t mind much, cos he’s having a ball.
Every single day he goes to visit the mall.
He buys some candy from the candyman’s stall.
He thinks about stealing but hasn’t the gall.
And he knows that pride comes before a fall.
He’s not too short but he’s not too tall.
This big old world makes him feel so small.
No-one sees him but he sees all.
He’s fascinated by things that crawl.
His friend likes to read all the things he’s scrawled.
He thinks the human
race needs an overhaul.
He likes his friend and his name is Paul.
His name is Paul and he lives in a Hall.
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