I leafed through all the men I had known to see whether or not I hated them. But then I realized it wasn't the men I hated, it was the Americans, the human beings, men and women both. They'd had their chance but they had turned against the gods, and it was time for me to choose sides. I wanted there to be a machine that could make them vanish, a button I could press that would evaporate them without disturbing anything else, that way there would be more room for the animals, they would be rescued.
The narrator reflects on feelings of animosity towards humanity rather than specific individuals. This emotion stems from a belief that society has abandoned its values, likening people to those who have betrayed divine principles. This revelation leads the narrator to a moment of reckoning where they feel compelled to take a stand, needed to choose between two sides.
In a moment of desperation, the narrator fantasizes about a machine that could eliminate humans without causing disruption, reflecting a desire to restore balance in nature. They envision a world where animals could thrive, free from the influence of humanity that has caused chaos and harm. This underscores a profound disillusionment with civilization and a yearning for a more harmonious existence.
