The Depression, by the time it came, ratified what'd been under way. Slothrop grew up in a hilltop desolation of businesses going under, hedges around the estates of the vastly rich, half-mythical cottagers from New York lapsing back now to green wilderness or straw death, all the crystal windows every single one smashed, Harrimans and Whitneys gone, lawns growing to hay, and the autumns no longer a time for foxtrots in the distances, limousines and lamps, but only the accustomed crickets again, apples again, early frosts to send the hummingbirds away, east wind, October rain: only winter certainties.
The passage evokes a sense of decay and despair in a once-flourishing landscape, illustrating a transition marked by poverty as the Great Depression takes hold. Slothrop’s childhood environment is described as a desolate hilltop where prosperous businesses have failed, and wealthy estates are deteriorating. The imagery highlights a stark contrast between the previous vibrancy, filled with life and activity, and the present state, which is characterized by crumbling grandeur and an encroaching wilderness.
The mood of the passage captures a nostalgic sense of loss, where autumns are stripped of their former elegance, now replaced by a haunting stillness. Gone are the glamorous social events and opulent lifestyles, leaving behind only the sounds of nature and the harsh realities of winter. The emphasis on the shattered windows and dying lawns symbolizes not only a physical decline but also the emotional and cultural desolation that accompanies such societal changes.
