He did not look up because he knew how senseless the landscape would appear. It takes energy to invest life with meaning, and at present this energy was lacking. He knew how things could stand bare, their essence having retreated on all sides to beyond the horizon, as if impelled by a sinister centrifugal force.
The character in this passage chooses not to look up at the landscape, aware that doing so would reveal its emptiness and lack of significance. He feels drained of the energy needed to find meaning in life and recognizes that this absence affects his perception of the world around him. His awareness of the futility of the landscape represents a deeper existential struggle.
This sense of withdrawal highlights a broader theme of disconnection, where the essence of life feels distant, as if driven away by a dark force. The character's struggle reflects a profound loneliness and the daunting task of finding purpose in a seemingly indifferent universe. Without the drive to create meaning, the landscape appears stark and devoid of beauty.
