Lost ye way in the dark, said the old man. He stirred the fire, standing slender tusks of bone up out of the ashes.The kid didn't answer.The old man swung his head back and forth. The way of the transgressor is hard. God made this world, but he didnt make it to suit everbody, did he?I don't believe he much had me in mind.
In this excerpt from "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy, an old man speaks to a young boy, hinting at the difficulties of life and the harsh realities that accompany it. He remarks on the struggles of those who stray from the right path, emphasizing that the world created by God does not necessarily accommodate everyone equally. His words suggest a sense of resignation and a belief that each individual has their own challenges, which the divine design does not always take into account.
The old man's comments reflect a philosophical perspective on existence, highlighting the idea that life can be unkind and that personal hardships are universal. His stirring of the fire and the imagery of the bone symbolically represent the remnants of past experiences and the persistence needed to confront life's adversities. The interaction between the old man and the kid serves to underscore the relentless nature of fate and the burden of understanding one's own place in a world that often feels indifferent.
