You have a life and there are these volumes on either side that go unvisited; some day soon as the world winds he will lie beneath what he now stands on, dead as those insects whose sound he no longer hears, and the grass will go on growing, wild and blind.
In John Updike's "Rabbit Is Rich," the narrative reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The character contemplates how people often neglect parts of their existence, represented by unvisited volumes, suggesting missed opportunities or experiences. This introspection highlights the urgency of living fully, as life continues relentlessly despite personal neglect.
The quote emphasizes the permanence of death and how it renders life's pursuits trivial over time. The imagery of the character lying beneath the ground, akin to forgotten insects, illustrates the transient nature of human endeavors. Ultimately, nature endures, symbolized by the grass that grows "wild and blind," serving as a reminder of life's continuity beyond individual human experiences.
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