In Mark Helprin's "A Soldier of the Great War," the author reflects on the intricate relationship between music, love, and time. He suggests that music intertwines silence and sound, creating a profound experience. Similarly, love gains its meaning through the emotions of longing and loss, indicating that the feelings accompanying love shape its depth and significance.

Helprin also emphasizes the complexity of time, suggesting that without the concepts of absence and consequence, both time and love lose their importance. The interplay of these elements reveals how our experiences are enriched by the contrasts and the connections we make, highlighting the significance of both presence and absence in our lives.