But in life, a tragedy is not one long scream. It includes everything that led up to it. Hour after trivial hour, day after day, year after year, and then the sudden moment: the knife stab, the shell burst, the plummet of the car from a bridge.
The quote reflects on the nature of tragedy, suggesting it is not isolated to a singular dramatic event but encompasses a series of smaller experiences over time. Life unfolds through countless ordinary moments, gradually building up to that climactic disaster. These trivial hours and days form the backdrop against which tragedy eventually strikes, making it seem even more poignant.
The abruptness of such shocking incidents—like a sudden accident or an unexpected loss—highlights the complexity of life’s narrative. Atwood emphasizes that our understanding of tragedy must account for the accumulation of everyday experiences that lead to the eventual overwhelming moment, showing how life's events intertwine to shape our reality.