The quote from William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" explores the themes of existential struggle and the monotony of life. It depicts a sense of futility as individuals engage in repetitive actions devoid of meaning, akin to puppets lacking a guiding hand. This imagery suggests a profound weariness and disconnection from life's purpose, leading to a reflection on the echoes of past behaviors that define human existence.

The notion of "furious attitudes" and "dead gestures" further emphasizes the emptiness within these actions, as individuals grapple with their identities in a world stripped of vibrancy. The sunset imagery reinforces the idea of an inevitable decline, suggesting that life culminates in a series of unproductive cycles, where the characters search for significance amidst their struggles, only to find themselves entrenched in the same old patterns.