Insecurities are our internal weaknesses; what we do and what we don't is based on them. In “Cosmicomics”, a collection of short stories revolving around a character named Qfwfq (shortened to “Q” throughout the essay), by Italo Calvino, many of Q's insecurities are illustrated throughout his journey through time. Q misses many chances to unite his family, form new relationships, and help improve his world around him because of his insecurities. His own fear for something going wrong shows him to be an overly careful, reaction-based character.
In the “Aquatic Uncle”, Q deals with insecurities revolving around prejudices his lover Lll is born with about the differences between their families. Lll's family is completely land based, where Q's family is a mixture of fish and amphibians. As a action of etiquette, Q must introduce Lll to his fish uncle N'ba N'ga, causing conflict, “ Knowing the prejudices in which she had been brought up, I hadn't yet dare tell Lll that my great-uncle was a fish” (75). Q has an insecurity that Lll will be repulsed my Uncle N'ba N'ga, but he has yet to even try her reaction. Him being so afraid of his lover shows how his insecurity affects his love life and family. He won't even try to test their love's boundaries. However, when he does introduce Lll, her reaction is the polar opposite of what he thought. Lll says after meeting with Uncle N'ba N'ga manny times after their initial visit, “Marry him. Be a fish again with him. And bring still more fish into the world. Good-bye” (81). This over-exemplifies the consequences of someone does not do anything because they are afraid. Lll Leaves Q for his own uncle, an act of high betrayal, leaving one lover for another, all because Q was afraid that something would go wrong. A path similar to this repeats again when Q is in a different time period, one after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
When courting a female in “The Dinosaurs”, Q is afraid to make advances onto her because of his insecurities about the physical differences between them. Even though he a chance with the female, he still chooses not to court her because of his insecurities. He says to himself, “This was the moment for me to embrace her. But the dinosaur they imagined was too different from the Dinosaur I was” (101). This shows how his confidence wavers, so much as to not to take a chance at a women. Italo shows him as being weak on purpose, to show Q's fatalistic traits. This is a major character flaw in Q. However, Q is even more insecure when it comes to protecting his new home.
As apparent dinosaur attackers rush on a rampage and target his new home, Q is elected as the leader of the offense, but he abandons his people in hope of reconciliation with the dinosaurs instead.
The commotion of him being chosen and the clamor of the village causes even more insecurity within him, causing internal conflict. Q to contemplate leaving both sides to avoidan uncomfortable situation, “I wanted nothing to do with either side: Let them rip each other apart in turn! I didn't give a damn about any of them. I had to escape as fast as possible...” (106). His insecurity cripples his own pride, as when he is given high command and respect, he would rather leave it to save himself then help his people. This shows how his insecurity will not risk himself to take a risk to improve his leave significantly.
All of Q's insecurities show that he is afraid and is an overly-careful and reactionary character. He would rather save himself from any pain or suffering then take a risk to improve his life. A quote that says, “Do what makes you anxious, don't do what makes you depressed” is an example why Q should test his insecurities for a chance at a better life.
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