Yet each flower, each twig, each pebble, shines as though illuminated from within, as once before, on her first day in the Garden. It's the stress, it's the adrenalin, it's a chemical effect: she knows this well enough. But why is it built in? she thinks. Why are we designed to see the world as supremely beautiful just as we're about to be snuffed? Do rabbits feel the same as the fox teeth bite down on their necks? Is it mercy?
by Margaret Atwood
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The passage reflects on the intense beauty of nature that one perceives in moments of stress or impending danger. The protagonist feels a profound connection to the world around her, noticing how each element of nature, from flowers to pebbles, seems to glow with an inner light. This awareness arises in a time when she senses her own mortality and contemplates the purpose of such beauty, questioning why it appears at times of crisis.

Furthermore, she ponders the instinctual responses to life-threatening situations, likening her experience to that of prey animals facing predators. The inquiry into whether such moments are filled with mercy or an innate biological design adds depth to her contemplation. This juxtaposition of beauty and mortality suggests that a heightened appreciation for life's splendor may serve as a counterbalance to fear and hardship.

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February 13, 2025

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