She had spent all her life in feeling miserable; this misery was her native element; its fluctuations, its varying depths, alone save her the impression of moving and living. What bothers me is that a sense of misery, and nothing else, is not enough to make a permanent soul. My enormous and morose Mademoiselle is all right on earth but impossible in eternity.
The passage reflects on a character who has lived her life engulfed in misery, suggesting that this suffering is her natural state. The author implies that her experiences of sorrow create a sense of movement and existence for her. However, the underlying concern is that this continuous feeling of misery, while significant in life, cannot sustain a lasting essence or soul. The character's deep unhappiness may ground her in the earthly experience but makes her unable to transcend into something eternal or universal.
This commentary raises poignant questions about the nature of existence and what truly defines a person's essence. It highlights the idea that while one can find identity and life in sorrow, such a foundation ultimately falls short of providing permanence. The contrast between earthly experiences and eternal significance plays a key role in understanding the limitations of a life rooted solely in despair. The author seems to be suggesting that for a soul to endure, it must encompass more than just the depths of suffering.
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