The Dark Forest

“And somehow it seemed to recognize part of the image, a pair of eyes. The ant was sensitive to eyes, because their gaze meant danger. Yet it felt no anxiety now, for it knew the eyes were lifeless.”

Eyes are the most prominent motif of The Dark Forest, and this excerpt highlights the power of eyes and their ability to convey information between living beings. The ant is sensitive to eyes because it knows that most eyes see it as prey, but it calms down once it realizes that the eyes pose no threat. Eyes convey knowledge and intent, allowing those who see them to discern unspoken information.

“The assembly fell into a prolonged silence. Ahead of them stretched the leaden road of time, terminating somewhere in the mists of the future, where all they could see were flickering flames and the luster of blood. The brevity of a human lifespan tormented them as never before, and their hearts soared above the vault of time to join with their descendants and plunge into blood and fire in the icy cold of space, the eventual meeting place for the souls of all soldiers.”

One of the most difficult aspects of the Crisis Era is the knowledge that most of those alive will not see their efforts come to fruition. The Trisolar invasion is on the horizon, but it will not happen for another four-hundred years, meaning that the people working hard for humanity’s defenses will not see the Doomsday Battle, leaving them with a sense of disappointment.

“The doctrine of Escapism arose alongside the Trisolar Crisis. Its primary argument holds that given the locked state of humanity’s advanced science, it does not make any sense to plan for a defense of Earth and the solar system in four and a half centuries. Considering the extent to which human technology can develop over the next four centuries, a more realistic goal would be to construct starships to enable a small portion of the human race to flee to outer space, thereby avoiding the total extinction of human civilization.”

This excerpt recognizes the issue of the power imbalance between the Trisolarans and humanity. No matter the efforts made, human technology will be no more advanced than it currently is when the Trisolarans arrive, spelling doom for humanity. That is why some believe that it makes more sense to use that technology to escape and survive rather than fight a seemingly hopeless battle.