In Denis Johnson's "The Name of the World," the narrator reflects on a transformative experience that leaves him feeling uplifted and liberated. He describes this newfound buoyancy as a shift into a brighter existence, suggesting a profound change in perspective. This shift is marked by a sense of liberation from previous burdens or fears that once constrained him, akin to waking from a nightmare where he had felt immobilized.

The author contrasts this feeling of newfound freedom with a sense of disconnection from the divine, as he notes that God had vanished during a moment of collective spiritual expression. This absence creates a poignant tension, as the narrator grapples with both the overwhelming relief of escaping his past struggles and the unsettling realization that he feels detached from the sacred. Overall, Johnson captures the complexity of emerging from darkness into light, illustrating the dual nature of existential revelation.