Futility of Life

Perhaps the main theme throughout Bukowski's writings is the futility of life and the irony of existence. In many stories, Bukowski aims to achieve one small goal, only to find the circumstances of his present conditions stop him from achieving such goals. His characters, including himself, are products of their generation as well as of their upbringing, and as such, are revolutionaries who can see that one can have everything without having anything. He mentions several times the urge to commit suicide, the hopelessness of existence, the heartlessness of the world, and the darkness of his own life's loneliness. However, at the same time, Bukowski also admits that he still believes in the human spirit, and that humanity does prevail over adversity.

Both sides of this equation are shown in several places throughout the book. In the story of J.C., the winged baseball player, the...