In Wallace Stegner's "Angle of Respose," the quote reflects on the process of healing and adaptation following significant changes in life. It illustrates the inevitability of forming new connections and associations after past ones have ceased to exist. Just like the body strengthens a broken bone during recovery, individuals learn to navigate through new circumstances, finding both a sense of desolation and comfort in this transformation.
This concept speaks to the resilience inherent in human nature, suggesting that while loss can bring pain, it can also lead to growth and new understandings. As people face life's unpredictability, they have the capacity to rebuild their emotional landscapes, fostering new relationships and experiences that contribute to their personal evolution.