In this excerpt from The Alexandria Quartet, the character perceives his mind as a battlefield where opposing forces of good and evil are constantly clashing. This imagery emphasizes the internal struggle he faces as he tries to discern right from wrong amidst confusion and confusion.
The quote suggests that recognizing these forces requires intense effort and vigilance, indicating the difficulty of moral clarity. The character feels compelled to exert all his mental strength to distinguish between the conflicting influences within himself.