In Barbara Kingsolver's "Unsheltered," the narrative explores the complexity of human interactions, highlighting the struggle to communicate and understand each other. This struggle often leads to conflict, as efforts to reason can inadvertently create divisions. Instead of fostering unity, discussions can become battlegrounds where individual viewpoints clash and misunderstandings proliferate.
The quote, "We try to reason with one another, but only manage to tear ourselves apart," encapsulates this theme, illustrating the irony in human discourse. Despite our intentions to connect and find common ground, conversations can sometimes exacerbate differences, revealing the fragility of relationships in the face of disagreement.