...she had lost just too much control, time was rushing all around her, these were rapids, and as far ahead as she could see it looked like Brock's stretch of the river, another stage, like sex, children, surgery, further into adulthood perilous and real, into the secret that life is soldiering, that soldiering includes death, those those soldiered for, not yet and often never in on the secret, are always, at every age, children.
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In Thomas Pynchon's novel "Vineland," the protagonist experiences a profound sense of losing control amidst the relentless flow of time, likening it to rushing rapids. This scenario symbolizes the various stages of life, filled with challenges and transitions, such as relationships, parenthood, and significant life events. The metaphor illustrates the chaotic nature of adulthood and the hidden truths within it.
The narrative also delves into the concept of "soldiering," which represents the struggles and sacrifices of life, including the inevitability of death. The passage suggests that those who endure these hardships often grapple with life's harsh realities, while the children and innocent who are shielded from these truths remain blissfully unaware of the deeper, sometimes painful, aspects of existence.
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