In "Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang" by Joyce Carol Oates, the quote reflects on the transition from reality to abstraction in our experiences. It suggests that what begins as a tangible, genuine experience can eventually become merely a concept or idea in our minds. This process can signify how memories or movements evolve over time, losing their original essence as they transform into thoughts or symbols.
The theme raises important questions about authenticity and how personal experiences can be filtered through perception. As people reflect on their journeys, the essence of their experiences may blur, resulting in a disconnect between the real and the conceptual. Oates’ exploration of this idea invites readers to consider how their own memories may shift over time, becoming less about what actually happened and more about how they choose to remember it.