“Geographical” escapism has been rendered ineffective by the spread of air routes. What remains is “evolutionary” escapism—a downward course in one’s development, back to the ideas and emotions of “golden childhood,” which may well be defined as “regress towards infantilism,” escape to a personal world of childish ideas. • In a strictly-regulated society, where life follows strictly-defined canons, the urge to escape from the chain of things “established once and for all” must be felt particularly strongly. ...
