They rode on and the sun in the east flushed pale streaks of light and then a deeper run of color like blood seeping up in sudden reaches flaring planewise and where the earth drained up into the sky at the edge of creation the top of the sun rose out of nothing like the head of a great red phallus until it cleared the unseen rim and sat squat and pulsing and malevolent behind them.
The passage describes a vivid sunrise in the world of "Blood Meridian," where the early light transforms the sky with hues reminiscent of blood. The imagery suggests a dramatic and almost violent birth of the sun, bringing forth deep colors that bleed into the horizon. As the sun rises, it creates a stark contrast between the earth and the sky, marking the edge of what is known and what is not. This moment captures the intensity of nature and its ability to evoke strong emotions.
Furthermore, the sun is personified as a "great red phallus," a powerful and almost sinister presence that looms over the landscape. This portrayal hints at themes of dominance and primal forces within the novel's exploration of existence and violence. The sun's emergence is not merely a natural phenomenon but a symbol of something larger and darker, setting the tone for the narrative that follows. McCarthy's language vividly conveys the raw and majestic beauty of the world alongside its inherent malevolence.
