What was the rationale for all this pillaging? Souvenirs. These people needed something to remember themselves by. An odd thing, souvenir-hunting: now becomes then even while it is still now. You don't really believe you're there, and so you nick the proof, or something you mistake for it.
The passage reflects the idea that the act of pillaging is motivated by a desire for souvenirs, serving as tangible reminders of experiences or places. This suggests a disconnect between the present moment and the need to grasp it through possessions, as if the individuals doubt their own reality and significance in that moment.
Additionally, the author emphasizes the peculiar nature of souvenir-hunting, where the act of taking something from a place confirms one's existence there. It reveals a deeper psychological need to hold onto memories, as people often seek proof of their experiences, reflecting an ongoing struggle between genuine engagement with the moment and the impulse to secure a fragment of it.
