The quote from Philip K. Dick's "The Man in the High Castle" reflects on the existential awareness of characters who perceive realities beyond their immediate existence. This awareness allows them to glimpse into the unchanging and eternal, which profoundly impacts their understanding of life. The implication is that such insights could lead to a sense of futility concerning their current lives, as they recognize the inevitability of change and mortality.
This notion of seeing beyond the present suggests a dangerous knowledge that can strip life of its meaning. By understanding the unchanging depths beyond their circumstances, characters face the tragic realization that life is transient. Ultimately, this realization embodies a bleak outlook on existence, where the awareness of the inevitable end contributes to a sense of despair and nihilism.