there was nothing, not a thing! about the country that made a man feel Big And Important. If anything it made a man feel dwarfed, and about as important as one of the fish-Indians living down on the clamflats. Important? Why, there was something about the whole blessed country that made a soul feel whipped before he got started.
In Ken Kesey's "Sometimes a Great Notion," the setting of the country profoundly impacts one's sense of self-worth. The protagonist feels small and insignificant in a land that offers no grandeur or meaning to elevate a man's status. Instead of fostering a sense of importance, the surroundings serve to diminish one's identity, making them feel as unremarkable as those living in humble circumstances by the clamflats.
This perception reflects a deeper theme of alienation and futility. The vastness and harshness of the environment create an overwhelming sense of defeat even before one attempts to assert themselves. The narrative captures how external factors can shape internal struggles and perceptions of self-worth, illustrating a profound struggle against the insignificance that the landscape imparts.
