Standing amid the tan, excited post-Christmas crowd at the Southwest Florida Regional Airport, Rabbit Angstrom has a funny sudden feeling that what he has come to meet, what's floating in unseen about to land, is not his son Nelson and daughter-in-law Pru and their two children but something more ominous and intimately his: his own death, shaped vaguely like an airplane.
In the bustling atmosphere of the Southwest Florida Regional Airport, Rabbit Angstrom stands amidst the post-Christmas crowd, filled with excitement and anticipation. However, a peculiar sensation washes over him, leading to a deep introspection about what he truly expects to encounter. Instead of looking forward to reuniting with his son Nelson, daughter-in-law Pru, and their children, he grapples with a more profound realization about the reality of his own mortality.
This unexpected feeling manifests as an ominous presence, taking the shape of an airplane, which symbolizes his impending death. This moment reflects Rabbit's inner turmoil and existential thoughts, revealing that, despite the festive environment around him, he confronts deeper and more personal issues that are hard to escape. Updike captures this complexity as Rabbit's journey leads him not only to familial connections but also to the unavoidable truths of life and death.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
