Afternoon sun Quote by Mary Ann Evans
““(visions) of strange cities, of sandy plains, of gigantic ruins, of midnight skies with strange bright constellations, of mountain-passes, of grassy nooks flecked with the afternoon sunshine through the boughs: I was in the midst of such scenes, and in all of them one presence seemed to weigh on me in all these mighty shapes - the presence of something unknown and pitiless. For continual suffering had annihilated religious faith within me: to the utterly miserable - the unloving and the unloved - there is no religion possible, no worship but a worship of devils. And beyond all these, and continually recurring, was the vision of my death - the pangs, the suffocation, the last struggle, when life would be grasped at in vain. ("The Lifted Veil")””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Lifted Veil by George Eliot, 1859
The narrator feels an overwhelming, indifferent presence amid strange, vast landscapes, reflecting existential despair and loss of faith, culminating in a vivid vision of death.
In simple terms: A sense of unknown, pitiless presence and loss of faith in strange
Key Takeaway
Recognize existential emptiness and seek meaning beyond despair
Themes
existentialism
despair
spiritual crisis
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- artistic creation
- philosophical reflection
- grief processing
Key Concepts
nihilism
theodicy
mortality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the unknown presence symbolize for you?
- How can one find purpose after faith is lost?
A Different Perspective
The description may romanticize suffering, overlooking resilience and hope.
