Cheese by Willem Elsschot

How's this for the cute and funny read of the week? The story in question is the short little novel called Cheese by Willem Elsschot. This novel dates back to 1933 when it was first published in Dutch. It was a big hit when it came out and, as after being translated into other languages, it has developed a fanbase in other countries as well.

Alright, so maybe it is not entirely accurate to refer to this story as cute. Certainly, it has its moments and will make you chuckle, especially as you read more about the antics of the main protagonist. However, the story also has its share of incredibly touching moments, specifically when you find yourself identifying with the inner conflicts of the main character.Cheese

The story itself is quite simple. There is Frans Laarmans, a clerk in a boring shipping company who laments his mundane job. Well, it is not anyone's dream job and it certainly didn't make him feel like his life was going anywhere. As it happens, he bumps into a group of entrepreneurs of sorts who offer him a weird get-rich-scheme. How about you head off to Belgium and sell cheese, they said? It is a worthy enterprise and it will make you money. 

It seemed more adventurous and exciting than his current job. Of course Laarmans was going to take it. It's a bit misleading to throw in so much enthusiasm for that previous phrase. The main character, whilst excited about this opportunity, also felt a number of other emotions – hesitation, uncertainty and fear of failure. Anyway, after receiving encouragement from his wife (and finding a sick leave excuse to avoid his day job), he heads off on this new venture.

You'd think it was one of those dream-come-true sort of tales. Oh no. The jittery Laarmans spends so much time faffing and pondering that he lands himself in trouble. And not the type you would expect. Cheese is delicate and you have to sell it in a given period of time. Otherwise, the results can be … unpleasant.

What was most likable about the novel was, among other things, Laarmans' attitude towards success. When faced with the prospect of finally changing his life, he balks. He gets antsy about actually making that change and, because of this fear, he spends way too much time fussing over the little details (like looking for the right office accessories) and not enough time selling the wares. In this way, Laarmans was a flawed character that was easy to identify with. Sure, we all want to be the guy who makes it big against all adversity but, chances are, we also feel closer to that guy who freaks out when making that change. A lot of people procrastinate for fear of failure and Laarmans' story is a wonderful example of this fear. It's strange to think that the idea of escaping a humdrum job is as relevant today as it was decades ago. I suppose somethings don't change?