The crickets kept crepitating; from time to time there came a sweet whiff of burning juniper; and above the black alpestrine steppe, above the silken sea, the enormous, all-engulfing sky, dove-gray with stars, made one's head spin, and suddenly Martin again experienced a feeling he had known on more than one occasion as a child: an unbearable intensification of all his senses, a magical and demanding impulse, the presence of something for which alone it was worth living.
In the excerpt from Vladimir Nabokov's "Glory," the narrator describes a serene and enchanting nighttime scene filled with nature's sounds and scents. The persistent chirping of crickets and the aroma of burning juniper create an immersive atmosphere. The vast, star-filled sky contributes to an overwhelming sense of wonder that captivates the protagonist, Martin, transporting him back to a childhood memory of heightened sensation.
This moment in the narrative represents a profound connection between Martin and the beauty of existence. He experiences a visceral joy and awe that suggests life's most meaningful experiences often arise from simple yet profound encounters with nature. Such feelings encapsulate the essence of living, suggesting that there are moments that ignite our passion and remind us of the significance of life itself.
