The Diving Bell & the Butterfly The quote: “If I must drool, I may as well drool on cashmere” seems to be Bauby’s life motto. What does this quote mean?

Hello there! I think I have a good explanation to answer your inquiry:

Basically, Bauby is bitter over his physical condition and the fact that he's drooling trapped inside a mental hospital. The patient's sense of wit and mind are going strong, but his physical condition is a repulsively frail annoyance.

Before his illness, Bauby was priviliged and successful; he had tidy fabrics, ate fine dinners, and presumably slept with little worries on his conscience. More relatedly, the now-ill big shot wore cashmere and draped blankets made of the same material on his furniture. Cashmere, to him, symbolizes the wealthy life and proud identity that he longs to have again, but can't because of his sickness.

the illustration   that would give a reader a clear understanding of the text is a picture of men constructing the frame of a building.the frame is made of iron bars. the text describes the job of blacksmiths'. these were very organised and they had different names: "the driver" and "the heater". the text describes the way in which these men worked ; they worked iron pieces as if they were playing a sport. in fact, the text wants to show the men's skills. the text also puts some emphasis on the use of '' rivets'' in construction. this kind of nails were not always used in the construction of manhattan.

some examples:

"and with an underhand toss he hurled the smoking rivet straight at the catcher, who caught it in mid-air in his catching can." men's skills

"when the driver was ready for a new " the emphasis on the rivet ( special nail used in construction).

" it against a beam to remove any cinders, and jammed it into the waiting hole. " the emphasis on the rivet.