In the passage from "Outer Dark" by Cormac McCarthy, a character is in a state of frantic pursuit, moving rapidly through a dense forest. The trees around him start to close in, transforming into threatening figures that seem to take on a menacing presence. Their towering shapes loom like enormous machines, reacting violently to his human vulnerability as he navigates through their midst.
This imagery illustrates the character's struggle against the overwhelming and hostile environment. The collision of his fragile human form with these formidable, almost mechanical entities evokes a sense of existential tension, highlighting the theme of man's vulnerability in the face of nature's indifferent power.