But the plains do not continue forever, just as happiness and sorrow both eventually come to an end. Their first hint of the highlands was a rough stretch of land pitted with gorges and rugged valleys that were barren of cover and composed of rock as stubborn and sharp and unyielding as a saint. The jaran playfully called it krinye - tom, the little mountains; Tess called it hell and wondered what the big mountains were like.
This passage offers a compelling reflection on the transient nature of life's emotional landscapes and physical terrains. The comparison between the endless plains and the inevitable endings of happiness and sorrow emphasizes the cyclical nature of human experience. Just as the expansive plains are bound to be interrupted by the rugged highlands, our moments of joy and despair are part of a continuous journey that leads to new beginnings. The vivid description of the highlands—rough, girt with gorges and valleys, and composed of stubborn, unyielding rock—symbolizes obstacles and challenges that are often harsh and unforgiving. The playful nickname 'krinye - tom' for the little mountains highlights a mix of reverence and humor in facing nature's formidable grandeur. Tess’s negative view, calling it hell and contemplating what the larger mountains might be like, underscores the human tendency to project fear or awe onto the unknown and the difficult. Overall, this excerpt suggests that life's path is marked by rough patches and formidable challenges, yet these are integral to growth, understanding, and eventual acceptance of life's impermanence. It reminds us that adversity may temporarily obscure beauty, but it also preludes the promise of new vistas ahead, urging resilience and curiosity amidst hardships. There is a profound message about embracing change as an inevitable, essential aspect of life's natural rhythm.
