little did she know
In the (completely underrated, in my opinion) movie “Stranger than Fiction,” the phrase “little did he know” plays an important role. The knowledge that Harold Crick heard the phrase “little did he know,” leads an English professor (played by Dustin Hoffman) to realize that Harold is not crazy and is indeed having his life narrated by an author. “I’ve written papers on ‘little did he know,’” the professor says.
This summer I have begun to think a lot about “little did he know,” or “she” per say.
Most people don’t really think about moments in their life being “little did he know” moments. “Little did he know that girl would be the love of his life.” “Little did he know getting on that train would change his future.” But, if you think about your life in terms of literature or film, there probably will be some “little did he/she know” moments. It works flawlessly in Shakespeare. Little did Romeo know going to that party at the Capulets would lead to his lover, and his untimely death.
Little did he know is also written in the pages of newspapers. Little did he know going to work in the World Trade Center that day would end in his death. Little did she know landing that flip at the qualifiers would secure her place in the Olympics.
It is a thing of tragedy and a thing of glory, a thing of loss and a thing of love.
I sometimes wonder if moments in my life are “little did she know” moments. Going to New York for the summer. Starting college. Meeting that guy. Sometimes they are joyous, hopeful. Sometimes they are morbid, morose. We don’t know when these moments are going to happen, or even if they do happen and only some of the time we get to look back on them.
These moments are rare. Most of the time we pass people on the street, we go through our routine, we meet and greet, etc. and nothing happens. We just go on.
