> My reason for posting is I have difficulty leaving it at this because these double-negative word-pairings seem oxymoronic

This kind of odd construction implies a major theme of the work. An attack on idealistic notions regarding love, linearity and logic. It's a little like a long Zen koan or lots of little ones:

'the futility of triumph or protest or vindication: the inanity of extolled virtue: the lethargy of nescient matter: the apathy of the stars.'


It does so surprise me that possibly the greatest writer of the 20th century is so maligned by word lovers. Here's someone who spent his life trying to conjure the Philosopher's Stone into book form and he's accused of self-love.