When he placed a candle on the shelf across the room from him and lit its wick, he came to realize that in fact everything he saw was a flat surface, like a screen – that in fact dimension was an illusion. Everything was a flat surface and the pinpoints of light, whether from a candle on the shelf or a gaslamp above the street, were punctures in that surface – gashes made by somebody behind the screen. He realized then that beyond everything he saw there was an entire realm of blazing sunfire, and that colors were only the silhouettes of people in that realm – walking, eating, dancing, doing whatever they were doing behind the screen
In the narrative, the protagonist has a profound realization about the nature of reality. By lighting a candle across the room, he perceives everything around him as merely flat surfaces, akin to a screen. This revelation suggests that the depth and dimension he once believed to be real are merely illusions, with the candlelight symbolizing deeper layers of existence. The light becomes a metaphorical breach, hinting at a greater reality that lies beyond the visual constraints.
The imagery of pinpricks of light as "gashes" implies a connection to an unseen world teeming with activity and vibrancy. The protagonist understands that colors and the hustle of life are merely shadows of entities engaging in diverse activities within this hidden realm. This concept challenges the perception of existence, urging a contemplation of the unseen forces that shape our understanding of reality.
