And if the dried and blackened shell of him is found among the sands by travelers to come yet who can discover the engine of his ruin?
In Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian," the passage reflects on the nature of a person's legacy and the deeper implications of their demise. It poses a profound question about how future generations might interpret the remnants of a life, particularly when that life has been marked by destruction and violence.
The imagery of a dried and blackened shell signifies not only physical death but also the emotional and moral hollowness that can accompany a life lived in turmoil. It challenges readers to consider the invisible forces behind one's ruin that may remain unfathomable to those who only see the aftermath.