Even people whose lives have been made various by learning, sometimes find it hard to keep a fast hold on their habitual views of life, on their faith in the Invisible, nay, on the sense that their past joys and sorrows are a real experience, when they are suddenly transported to a new land, where the beings around them know nothing of their history, and share none of their ideas-where their mother earth shows another lap, and human life has other forms than those on which their souls have been nourished.
The quote reflects the profound impact of displacement and the challenges of adapting to a new environment. Even individuals enriched by knowledge may struggle to maintain their established beliefs and emotions when they encounter a radically different world. The arrival in a new land, devoid of familiar connections and shared experiences, can create a disorienting sense of isolation.
This transition forces a confrontation with the unfamiliar, where the essence of human existence takes on new dimensions. The familiar joys and sorrows may feel distant or invalidated in this novel context, indicating that our personal histories are deeply tied to the environments we inhabit. In essence, Eliot highlights the fragile nature of identity and belief when faced with the unknown.
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