Heartbreak signifies an emotional state where one feels that their heart is not complete. This sense of incompleteness affects one’s ability to engage fully in life, making it difficult to commit to actions or relationships with genuine passion. When someone is heartbroken, they might find themselves unable to invest their whole being into experiences or connections.

The passage from Larry McMurtry's "The Last Picture Show" captures the essence of this emotional struggle. It highlights how heartbreak can leave a person hindered, resulting in a lack of enthusiasm or depth in their pursuits, as they carry the weight of their unhealed wounds.