SPOILERS IF YOU HAVENT READ THE STORY.
Many times I've been asked what my first ever short story āThe Restroomā is really about, and what it means (āsheās an angel, right?ā is very common). I wasn't really planning on explaining it, but it really seems like nobody is going to really understand what I meant if I don't explain. Part of my issue with explaining it, though, is that it takes away from what people have formed in their own mind about what it means. So if you have read the story, and you've formed an idea about it, don't read this, I don't want to ruin that idea for you. The story truly belongs to you, the reader, and what I'm about to say is what it means to me. Whatever I didn't put in words into the story, is not technically part of the story. Be warned that this story is much less 'horror' than it is social commentary. So if you were hoping for some creepy horror explanation, you will be disappointed, so maybe stop reading here too.
Also this is super pretentious, and I feel like a douche... don't mind me....
I am an atheist, and I wanted to write a story about the horrors of religion (funny thing is, many people think the story is highly christian, thats a good chuckle). Don't get me wrong, I'm not wholly against religion, I'm against the terrible things caused by religion. The idea here is that the Restroom is someone venturing off into religion, leaving their loved ones behind. The man did not die in the end because religion does not often kill you, but rather it changes you. The loved ones are left without the person they used to know, these loved ones could represent friends or relatives, anyone really. I had the man bring the little boy to safety because I wanted the boy to be safe, simply because it never happens. With religious people, children are never safe from indoctrination, and that is something that weighs heavily on me personally. I quite resent the fact that I was indoctrinated from birth, and it took me 20 years to realize. The man entered the washroom and finds no way out, because it is very difficult to get out of religion once youāre in.Ā The woman at the end is naked and glowing, and is beautiful. His desire to touch her is not a sexual desire, though I suppose in the context of the story, it would be. The woman is religion, and to those that are maybe broken, or need something to believe in, religion looks irresistible. āA way to be free from all the terrible things I've done, and will continue to do?! Perfect!ā He reached out and touched her because he felt he needed to. He examined her, which alluded to how he delved deep into the doctrine. He tried to talk himself out of it (when he saidĀ āI could be her father!ā), that is everybodyās desire and innate ambition to use logic.Ā
That is the basic idea. With that, if you're so inclined, you can look closer at the story to see if you find any other little allusions.
Somebody teach my story in a highschool classroom. Pleaaaaaseeee XD
Most of my stories contain some little hidden things, but āThe Restroomā is definitely takes the cake. My story āJerusalemā has a fair few hidden things too, mainly real world events and facts hidden within the story (and hints as to who that REALLY old lady was).
Thanks for reading, I hope this clears everything up!
Here is a link to the story so that you may examine it closer.
Also here is the link to Jerusalem.
Anyone who can tell me what hidden things are in there, including why the story is called 'Jerusalem,' wins the internetz.
