The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
It was the time of year, the time of day, for a small insistent sadness to pass into the texture of things. Dusk, silence, iron chill. Something lonely in the bone.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the melancholic atmosphere of dusk and its ability to evoke feelings of loneliness and sadness.
In this quote by Don DeLillo, the author captures the essence of dusk as a time that inspires a deep, almost tangible sense of sadness. The imagery of the 'iron chill' and the 'silence' evokes a mood where external elements mirror internal emotions, suggesting that certain times of the day resonate with our feelings of solitude and melancholy. It portrays how moments in nature can be intertwined with human emotions, revealing the complexity of our experiences in a seemingly quiet world.
Themes
SadnessDuskLonelinessEmotionSilenceMelancholy
In practice
Example use cases
In a book club discussion about the symbolism of nature in literature, this quote can illustrate how settings can influence emotional tones.
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[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. He is either on a horse or driving a car, depending, and either way he’s carrying a gun. This is one of the essential images in American mythology.
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