We're all dreaming, Arctor said. If the last to know he's an addict is the addict, then maybe the last to know when a man means what he says is the man himself, he reflected. He wondered how much of the garbage that Donna had overheard he had seriously meant. He wondered how much of the insanity of the day--his insanity--had been real, or just induced as a contact lunacy, by the situation. Donna, always, was a pivot point of reality for him; for her this was the basic, natural question. He wished he could answer.
In Philip K. Dick's "A Scanner Darkly," the character Arctor reflects on the nature of addiction and self-awareness. He considers the idea that just as addicts may be the last to recognize their addiction, individuals might also struggle to understand the authenticity of their own words and actions. This notion leads him to question how genuine his statements to Donna were and whether the chaotic feelings he experienced throughout the day were a product of his own mind or influenced by the people around him.
Donna serves as a grounding force in Arctor's tumultuous life, prompting him to confront these existential questions. Arctor's introspection reveals the confusion between reality and induced insanity, emphasizing his struggle with his identity amidst the chaos of addiction and interpersonal relationships. His longing for clarity and the desire to understand the significance of his feelings for Donna illustrate the broader theme of searching for truth in a world filled with deception and uncertainty.
