They must take me for a fool, or even worse, a lunatic. And no wonder ,for I am so intensely conscious of my misfortune and my misery is so overwhelming that I am powerless to resist it and am being turned into stone, devoid of all knowledge or feeling.
The quote expresses the deep turmoil of a character who feels misunderstood and sees their situation as hopeless. The speaker believes that others perceive them as foolish or even insane, which adds to their despair. This struggle is profound, highlighting the pain of feeling alienated and powerless in the face of overwhelming misery.
Moreover, the character's intense self-awareness of their misfortunes contributes to a sense of paralysis. They describe a transformation into stone, symbolizing a loss of vitality and emotion. This imagery reflects the emotional burden that can come from such acute distress, leading to a state where they feel devoid of knowledge and feeling.