The quote by Joan Didion, "August comes on not like a month but like an affliction," captures the oppressive nature of the month of August. It suggests that the arrival of August feels burdensome and overwhelming, rather than simply the start of a new month. Didion evokes a sense of discomfort, as if the heat and lethargy of summer have taken on a more pronounced, even painful quality, affecting individuals' moods and experiences. August becomes a time where the weight of summer is felt acutely, rather than a joyful transition.

This perspective reflects Didion’s broader themes of disillusionment and the challenges of contemporary life. By personifying August as an affliction, she emphasizes the emotional and psychological toll that the season can impose. The phrase conveys a sense of dread or apprehension that resonates with the reader, inviting reflection on the passage of time and the feeling that, at times, certain periods of the year can feel heavy and burdensome, impacting one's state of mind profoundly.