To feel that empty, again, again. I listen to my heart, wave upon wave, salty and red, continuing on and on, marking time.
In "The Handmaid's Tale," Margaret Atwood captures the relentless emotional struggle of the protagonist, who reflects on a profound sense of emptiness. This feeling recurs in her life, symbolizing a deep longing and loss. The imagery of the heart's waves conveys both a sense of continuity and the pain inflicted by these experiences, suggesting that the character is caught in a cycle of sorrow and remembrance.
The phrase illustrates her internal battle as she grapples with her emotions, marked by the contrasting imagery of saltiness and redness. It signifies a mixture of pain and vitality, emphasizing how her heart continues to feel despite the surrounding emptiness. Ultimately, it reflects the resilience of the human spirit against a backdrop of despair.
