They don't have to think. Just be afraid naturally and pulling together. Like specks of mercury rolling into the big piece. Like little specks of mercury rolling into bigger specks and then bigger and then just one piece, and nothing to be scared about or hurt about because you're just a piece of a bigger piece getting bigger rolling across the land into an ocean of mercury...
In Ken Kesey's "Sometimes a Great Notion," the metaphor of mercury illustrates how fear can drive people to unite instinctively. Just as tiny droplets of mercury coalesce into larger masses, individuals may merge into a collective driven by their shared fears and anxieties. This imagery reflects the notion that, in times of distress, people often come together, motivated by a primal response rather than conscious thought.
The passage suggests that there is a transformative power in this unity. As these separate entities join, they evolve into a single, larger form, diminishing individual fears and creating a sense of security. Ultimately, it conveys that by becoming part of something greater, individuals can overcome their fears, transforming them into a cohesive force moving forward, akin to the mass of mercury flowing toward the ocean.
