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Selden and Lily stood still, accepting the unreality of…

“Selden and Lily stood still, accepting the unreality of the scene as a part of their own dream-like sensations. It would not have surprised them to feel a summer breeze on their faces, or to see the lights among the boughs reduplicated in the arch of a starry sky. The strange solitude about them…” quote by Edith Wharton
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“Selden and Lily stood still, accepting the unreality of the scene as a part of their own dream-like sensations. It would not have surprised them to feel a summer breeze on their faces, or to see the lights among the boughs reduplicated in the arch of a starry sky. The strange solitude about them was no stranger than the sweetness of being alone in it together.”

Edith Wharton

About This Quote

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

Characters accept surreal surroundings as part of a shared dream, finding comfort in solitary togetherness.

In simple terms: Finding peace in shared solitude.

Key Takeaway

Embrace collective solitude.

Themes

solitude dreams shared experience comfort acceptance

Mood

contemplative melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • artistic reflection
  • personal meditation
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

existentialism subjective reality psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does shared solitude affect personal identity?
  • What does the dream-like setting reveal about their inner world?
A Different Perspective

The perception of unreality may mask underlying anxieties.

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