The essence of life is marked by separateness, as highlighted in Nabokov's "Pnin." This separateness is vital for existence; without our bodily limitations, such as the skull which serves as a protective barrier, we would fail to survive. Human identity relies on this isolation from the environment, providing us the necessary boundaries to navigate life.

While the allure of connecting deeply with nature exists, it poses a significant risk to our fragile sense of self. Engaging too closely with the world can lead to a loss of individuality, making death the only occasion for true unity with nature. According to Nabokov, our separateness is both a protective measure and a defining characteristic of human life.