Invisible Cities is the complete opposite of what we have been reading the last month. A complete contrast to
Simple Heart and
Cathedral. Flaubert and Carver include such detail that the reader doesn't think twice upon the scenario. It is almost as though Flaubert and Carver want to give the reader only one road to choose. Calvino's text is quite the opposite of such fruitful detail. In fact the descriptions bestowed on each city can sometimes be vague.
Much this lack of detail idea has me thinking that Calvino wants the reader to choose his own train of thought. The cities are delivered with enough detail for the reader t create its own world. Containing no interference with overwhelming detail as in Flaubert's or Carver's works. So the whole idea of show don't tell works counter/clock wise in
Invisible Cities. Calvino expresses the basic, but then the reader is left to create (show) his own world. However this idea not only applies to the reader. Kublai Khan is situated in the same position as the reader. "The Great Khan deciphered the signs, but the connection between them and the places visited remained uncertain; he never knew whether Marco wished to enact an adventure that had befallen him on his journey, an exploit of the city's founder, the prophecy of an astrologer, a rebus or a charade to indicate a name."(22) The Great Emperor finds himself making his own path based on the deciphered ideas from Marco.
This idea of uncertainty becomes clear when the Khan becomes curious if he will ever fully comprehend his empire. "On the day when I know all the emblems...shall I be able to posses my empire, at last?" In response to the Emperor " Sire, do not believe it. On that day you will be an emblem among emblems." In other words the uncertainty that Calvino implicates in his writing signifies a teaching. A teaching that in my opinion means that uncertainty is what keeps the world in motion. And that this motion will never be fully comprehensible. One revolves around the world: not the world around one. Not even great kings will ever comprehend. So don't try too hard, because the situation will never be under control.
Much this lack of detail idea has me thinking that Calvino wants the reader to choose his own train of thought. The cities are delivered with enough detail for the reader t create its own world. Containing no interference with overwhelming detail as in Flaubert's or Carver's works. So the whole idea of show don't tell works counter/clock wise in Invisible Cities. Calvino expresses the basic, but then the reader is left to create (show) his own world. However this idea not only applies to the reader. Kublai Khan is situated in the same position as the reader. "The Great Khan deciphered the signs, but the connection between them and the places visited remained uncertain; he never knew whether Marco wished to enact an adventure that had befallen him on his journey, an exploit of the city's founder, the prophecy of an astrologer, a rebus or a charade to indicate a name."(22) The Great Emperor finds himself making his own path based on the deciphered ideas from Marco.
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