In Penelope Fitzgerald's "The Gate of Angels," the character Fred orders tea and biscuits, seeking a moment of tranquility. However, he grapples with the absurdity of attempting to think of nothing, highlighting the challenge of quieting one’s thoughts. This moment reveals his internal conflict between his professional obligations as a university academic and his emotional struggles as a lover.

Fred’s journey through confusion and emotional turmoil illustrates the universal difficulty of navigating life’s complexities. His experience of shifting from bitterness to emptiness underscores that even simple moments can become laden with deeper existential reflections, emphasizing the intricacies of human thought and feeling.