Terrifying encounters with the end? I'm thirty-four! Worry about oblivion, he told himself, when you're seventy-five! The remote future will be time enough to anguish over the ultimate catastrophe!
In Philip Roth's novel "Everyman," the protagonist grapples with existential fears and the inevitability of death. At thirty-four, he reflects on his life but chooses to delay deep contemplation of his mortality, suggesting that thoughts of oblivion can wait until later years. This mindset illustrates a common tendency to push away fears about the end of life, especially when one is still young and vibrant.
The character's internal dialogue highlights a struggle between living in the present and the burden of future anxieties. By prioritizing immediate experiences over distant concerns about mortality, he embodies a relatable human instinct to focus on the here and now, even as he acknowledges the reality of his eventual demise. Roth captures this tension, showcasing how individuals often wrestle with their own existence and the passage of time.
