Drank Quote by Malcolm Lowry
““Closing his eyes again, standing there, glass in hand, he thought for a minute with a freezing detached almost amused calm of the dreadful night inevitably awaiting him whether he drank much more or not, his room shaking with daemonic orchestras, the snatches of fearful tumultuous sleep, interrupted by voices which were really dogs barking, or by his own name being continually repeated by imaginary parties arriving, the vicious shouting, the strumming, the slamming, the pounding, the battling with insolent archfiends, the avalanche breaking down the door, the proddings from under the bed, and always, outside, the cries, the wailing, the terrible music, the dark’s spinets: he returned to the bar.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Under the Volcano, 1947
The narrator experiences a chaotic, nightmarish inner world, blending reality and hallucination as he confronts fear and existential dread.
In simple terms: He feels trapped in a terrifying, surreal mental landscape.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and confront inner turmoil.
Themes
psychology
existentialism
fear
Mood
melancholic
intense
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- mental health crises
- creative writing
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
surrealism
addiction
nightmare
inner conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the narrator’s perception shape his reality?
- What does the “bar” symbolize?
A Different Perspective
The vivid chaos may mask underlying emotional pain.
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