Today I was reading through Cormac McCarthy’s Sunset Limited: A Novel in Dramatic Form, (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2006). It’s a simple play that features a conversation between two individuals, “White” and “Black” pondering the great questions of existence. It’s a short play that can be read in a couple hours and it’s well worth your time. (Thanks to my friend Lars for recommending it.)
While there are many quotable lines in the play, I was struck by the following exchange in which Black identifies himself as a questioner in contrast to the doubter:
WHITE: Are you a heretic?
BLACK: You tryin to put me in the trick bag, Professor.
WHITE: No I’m not. Are you?
BLACK: No more than what a man should be. Even a man with a powerful belief. I aint a doubter. But I am a questioner.
WHITE: What’s the difference?
BLACK: Well, I think the questioner wants the truth. The doubter wants to be told there aint no such thing. (Sunset Limited: A Novel in 30-1)
