In Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love," the protagonist reflects on the significant difference between a seemingly benign action, like a tree, and the severe implications of pointing a gun at someone. This moment captures the gravity of threatening another person's life, emphasizing that such an act is a potent signal that can lead to fatal consequences.

The quote highlights the psychological weight of violence and the consent inherent in lethal threats. It suggests that when a gun is drawn, it transforms the situation into one of existential risk, granting a kind of permission for harm that fundamentally alters human interaction and relationships.