She envied Ralph his dying, for if one were thinking of rest that was the most perfect of all. To cease utterly, to give it all up and not know anything more - this idea was as sweet as a vision of a cool bath in a marble tank, in a darkened chamber, in a hot land. ... but Isabel recognized, as it passed before her eyes, the quick vague shadow of a long future. She should never escape; she should last to the end.
In "The Portrait of a Lady," the protagonist Isabel reflects on the concept of death and its peacefulness as she envies Ralph's impending demise. She sees death as a final escape from the burdens of life, portraying it as an alluring rest from all struggles and knowledge, much like the refreshing relief of a cool bath in a stifling environment. This ideal resonates deeply with her yearning for liberation from her own entrapments.
However, as Isabel contemplates this idea, she feels a fleeting awareness of her long future ahead, realizing that she is unlikely to find that peaceful release. Unlike Ralph, she must endure the trials of life until the very end. This recognition brings a sobering depth to her thoughts, highlighting her despair at the permanence of her situation and the inevitable challenges she will continue to face.
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