The others went upstairs, a slow unwilling procession…
““The others went upstairs, a slow unwilling procession. If this had been an old house, with creaking wood, and dark shadows, and heavily panelled walls, there might have been an eerie feeling. But this house was the essence of modernity. There were no dark corners - no possible sliding panels - it was flooded with electric light - everything was new and bright and shining. There was nothing hidden in this house, nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it. Somehow, that was the most frightening thing of all. They exchanged good-nights on the upper landing. Each of them went into his or her own room, and each of them automatically, almost without conscious thought, locked the door…””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A modern house, bright and transparent, feels more terrifying than an old, creaky one because its lack of hidden corners removes any comforting mystery.
In simple terms: Bright modern house feels scarier than old house.
Key Takeaway
Beware that total transparency can be unsettling.
Themes
modernity
fear
transparency
Mood
uneasy
contemplative
Type
novel
atmospheric
When to use this quote
- moving into a new apartment
- designing open-plan office
- installing smart home devices
Key Concepts
psychology
architecture
security
Questions to Reflect On
- Does openness always feel unsafe?
- How can you create privacy in bright spaces?
A Different Perspective
The description may overgeneralize fear of modernity.