And because you not always can keep your eyes shut there comes the real trouble--the heart pain--the world pain. I tell you, my friend, it is not good for you to find you cannot make your dream come true, for the reason that you not strong enough are, or not clever enough. . . . Ja! . . . And all the time you are such a fine fellow too! Wie? Was? Gott im Himmel! How can that be? Ha! ha! ha!'The shadow prowling amongst the graves of butterflies laughed boisterously.
The quote addresses the inner turmoil experienced when dreams remain unfulfilled due to one's perceived shortcomings, whether it be a lack of strength or intelligence. Such realizations bring about a painful awareness of one’s limitations, while at the same time highlighting the intrinsic value of the individual, who despite these struggles remains a "fine fellow." This juxtaposition of self-worth and disappointment creates a complex emotional landscape.
The character's laughter amidst sorrowful reflection reveals a deeper truth about the human condition: we often mask our pain with humor. The imagery of "the shadow prowling amongst the graves of butterflies" symbolizes lost potential and unachieved dreams, illustrating the overwhelming weight of disappointment that lingers in the quest for fulfillment. This quote poignantly captures a moment of existential contemplation in Joseph Conrad's "Lord Jim."