In this passage from Samuel Beckett's "Molloy," the narrator reflects on life as if it is a completed joke, simultaneously recognizing it as both concluded and ongoing. This duality suggests a complex relationship with existence, where the past and present intertwine, creating a unique perspective on the nature of time and experience.

The mention of the "watchmaker" and the "ruined works" evokes themes of creation and decay, indicating that despite the impermanence of life, there is a deeper significance at play. The reference to a divine presence hinted at through the "watchmaker" emphasizes the search for meaning in the fragments left behind, even as life itself seems to fade into memory.