There was anxiety that an day would not follow each other, along with the certainty that it would surely happen. It was like holding her breath, as Udayan had tried to do in the Baixada. And yet, somehow she was breathing. Just as time was still, but also passed, some other part of his unconscious body was now extracting oxygen, forcing them to continue.
In "The Lowland," there is a sense of both anxiety and inevitability regarding the passage of time. The characters grapple with the fear that day may not follow day, reflecting a struggle against an uncertain future. This tension mirrors Udayan's experience of trying to hold his breath, which symbolizes the apprehension felt within the narrative. Yet, amidst this fear, life continues its course, hinting at resilience and the often contradictory nature of existence.
The protagonist experiences a disconnect between the perception of time and the reality of living. While the idea of time halting brings a feeling of stillness, life persists stubbornly. This complex relationship suggests that even in moments of fear and uncertainty, the fundamental act of breathing and survival goes on, highlighting the character's struggle to find balance between anxiety and the inevitability of life moving forward.
