In "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," Salman Rushdie explores the idea that life’s challenges and hardships strip away our illusions, revealing a more authentic essence of humanity. The quote, "Life's bruises demythologise us all," suggests that our experiences of pain and struggle challenge the narratives we create about ourselves. They force us to confront reality, shedding myths that can distort our understanding of life and our place within it.
Rushdie also hints at a connection between personal turmoil and the broader state of the world. The phrase "The earth gapes" implies a profound global unease or a fracture in the fabric of existence itself. Overall, the message reflects on how both individual and collective experiences of hardship contribute to a deeper understanding of life, urging us to recognize the fragility and complexity of our existence.