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All plots tend to move deathward. This is the nature of…

“All plots tend to move deathward. This is the nature of plots. Political plots, terrorist plots, lovers’ plots, narrative plots, plots that are part of children’s games. We edge nearer death every time we plot. It is like a contract that all must sign, the plotters as well as those who are the…” quote by Don DeLillo
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““All plots tend to move deathward. This is the nature of plots. Political plots, terrorist plots, lovers’ plots, narrative plots, plots that are part of children’s games. We edge nearer death every time we plot. It is like a contract that all must sign, the plotters as well as those who are the targets of the plot.””

Don DeLillo

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

All narratives inevitably move toward death, reflecting a universal contract that both plotters and targets share.

In simple terms: Stories lead to death.

Key Takeaway

Recognize mortality in storytelling.

Themes

mortality inevitability plot dynamics

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

  • writing fiction
  • film script analysis
  • philosophical debates
  • teaching literature

Key Concepts

existentialism narrative theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does this inevitability suggest about human agency?
  • Can stories subvert the deathward trend?
A Different Perspective

Focusing on death may overlook other thematic possibilities.

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