I could taste the peach and feel the soft air blowing from a subway grating on my legs and I could smell lilac and garbage and expensive perfume and I knew that it would cost something sooner or later - because I did not belong there, did not come from there - but when you are twenty-two or twenty-three, you figure that later you will have a high emotional balance, and be able to pay whatever it costs.
In Joan Didion's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem," a vibrant portrayal of youthful experience and longing emerges. The author paints a sensory-rich scene, evoking the taste of peach and the sensation of warm air from underground transit. These elements capture the essence of a fleeting moment in an unfamiliar and intriguing setting, revealing a juxtaposition of beauty and the reality of urban life, marked by conflicting scents of lilac and garbage. This atmosphere reflects a deep yearning for belonging in a world that feels foreign.
Didion conveys the youthful belief that emotional maturity will eventually allow one to navigate the complexities of adulthood. At twenty-two or twenty-three, there's confidence in the capability to cope with consequences, even if the sense of belonging feels tenuous. The recognition that this experience may come at a cost highlights the bittersweet nature of youth, where hope and uncertainty intertwine as one embarks on their journey through life’s choices, unaware of what lies ahead.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
