Change Quote by J.G. Ballard
““To his surprise he felt a moment of regret, of sadness that his quest for his mother and father would soon be over. As long as he searched for them he was prepared to be hungry and ill, but now that the search had ended he felt saddened by the memory of all he had been through, and of how much he had changed. He was closer now to the ruined battlefields and this fly-infested truck, to the nine sweet potatoes in the sack below the driver's seat, even in a sense to the detention center, than he would ever be again to his house in Amherst Avenue.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Drowned World, 1962
The protagonist feels regret and sadness as his long quest ends, reflecting on how the journey changed him and his distance from home.
In simple terms: He is sad his adventure is over and he has changed.
Key Takeaway
Abrace change but honor the past.
Themes
regret
reflection
journey
homecoming
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- post‑war trauma
- personal growth
- returning home
Key Concepts
identity
impermanence
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the end of a quest reveal about self?
- How can one integrate past hardships into future life?
A Different Perspective
The ending may romanticize loss, ignoring practical needs for closure.
