Grandfathers Quote by William H Gass
““Their hair in curlers and their heads wrapped in loud scarves, young mothers, fattish in trousers, lounge about in the speedwash, smoking cigarettes, eating candy, drinking pop, thumbing magazines, and screaming at their children above the whir and rumble of the machines. At the bank a young man freshly pressed is letting himself in with a key. Along the street, delicately teetering, many grandfathers move in a dream. During the murderous heat of the summer, they perch on window ledges, their feet dangling just inside the narrow shelf of shade the store has made, staring steadily into the street. Where their consciousness has gone I can’t say. It’s not in the eyes. Perhaps it’s diffuse, all temperature and skin, like an infant’s, though more mild. Near the corner there are several large overalled men employed in standing. A truck turns to be weighed on the scales at the Feed and Grain. Images drift on the drugstore window. The wind has blown the smell of cattle into town. Our eyes have been driven in like the eyes of the old men. And there’s no one to have mercy on us.””
About This Quote
A chaotic, sensory‑rich portrait of a bustling, oppressive summer scene, highlighting disconnection and yearning.
In simple terms: A vivid, noisy summer street scene showing fatigue and longing.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments of calm amid overwhelming environments.
Themes
urban life
heat
disconnection
observation
society
Mood
melancholic
intense
Type
narrative
observational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- mental health
- creative writing
Key Concepts
sensory overload
social critique
visual metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions does this scene evoke?
- How does the heat affect the characters?
A Different Perspective
The density may overwhelm some readers; context is unclear.
