At the Bottom of the River

“Then rushes over dry, flat land in imperfect curves—curves as if made by a small boy playfully dragging a toy behind him.”

This simile, used to compare the river’s shape to the act of a boy dragging a toy, shows the simplicity of the river being formed—simply by water flowing—despite its vast size and strength. A river’s formation is a simple act in the grand scheme of nature, like the afterthought of marks left behind by a small boy’s toy.

“Not for him can thought crash over though in random and violent succession, leaving his brain suffused in contradiction.”

This description of the man from the beginning of the text serves two purposes. First, it shows his inability to comprehend the idea of multiple layers of thought and ideas at war with each other. Instead, he puts these thoughts aside in favor of the more concrete ideas of family, shelter, and survival. Additionally, the imagery within this quote—of ideas crashing violently—shows the value of contradiction. Everything does not need to be clearly defined or explained as humanity tries to do; rather, it is enough to grapple with ideas and appreciate contradictions, even if neat conclusions cannot be drawn from them.

“What is the virtue in him? And then again, what can it matter? For tomorrow the oak will be felled, the trestle will break, the cow’s hooves will be made into glue.”

This line represents the internal conflict with which both the man and the narrator struggle.