The passage reflects a deep lament for the transformation of Virginia, describing it as a once peaceful and cherished place now reduced to a source of labor for the cotton industry. It portrays a profound sense of loss, as the state has become a site where the dignity of individuals is sacrificed for the insatiable demands of capitalism, represented by Eli Whitney's cotton gin. The author expresses outrage at the moral degradation that accompanies this commodification of humanity.

Styron's lamentation reveals the painful history of slavery, emphasizing the arrival of enslaved people in Virginia as a foundational tragedy. The invocation of Virginia’s decline serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of economic progress, where human suffering is overshadowed by the pursuit of profit. The emotional weight of the passage underscores a collective mourning for the values that have been abandoned in the pursuit of wealth and power.