"When things were very bad his soul just crawled behind his heart and curled up and went to sleep" from Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings depicts a deep sense of emotional retreat during difficult times. It conveys how the individual instinctively withdraws inwardly to protect himself from overwhelming pain or hardship, essentially shutting down emotionally.
This quote highlights the human tendency to retreat into oneself during moments of intense suffering. Angelou's words paint a vivid picture of vulnerability and the subconscious mechanisms people use to cope with life's hardships, emphasizing the importance of understanding and compassion for those going through tough times.