“[...] a morass of despair violence death with a thin layer of glass spread upon the surface where Love, a tiny crab with pincers and rainbow shell, walked delicately ever sideways but getting nowhere, while the sun [...] rose higher in the sky its tassels dropping with flame threatening every moment to melt the precarious highway of glass. And the people: giant pathworks of colour with limbs missing and parts of their mind snipped off to fit them into the outline of the free pattern.”
This quote from Janet Frame's writing depicts a vivid and bleak image of the world. The use of metaphors and personification creates a stark contrast between the harsh reality of despair, violence, and death, and the fragile facade of love represented by the crab on the layer of glass. The imagery of the sun threatening to melt the glass highway symbolizes the constant danger and instability of the world. The description of the people as "giant pathworks of colour" with missing limbs and snipped minds highlights the struggle of individuals to conform to societal expectations and the loss of individuality in the process. Overall, the quote conveys a sense of hopelessness and the struggle to find meaning and connection in a chaotic world.
In this evocative passage from Janet Frame's writing, the delicate balance between love and despair, beauty and destruction, is vividly depicted. The imagery of a fragile "highway of glass" overlaid on a dark landscape speaks to the precarious nature of our modern existence. As we navigate our way through a world filled with violence and chaos, it is important to remember the importance of love and connection, even when it seems like we are making no progress. Just like the tiny crab in the passage, we must continue to move forward, navigating the challenges that lie ahead.
In this passage, Janet Frame beautifully illustrates the surreal and chaotic nature of the world, using vivid imagery to convey the sense of despair and longing for love. The juxtaposition of the delicate crab with the violent surroundings creates a striking contrast, highlighting the struggle for connection and meaning in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
As you reflect on this passage from Janet Frame's writing, consider the following questions:
“...and the red sun of desire and decision (the two things that create a live world) rose higher and higher, while upon a succession of balconies a succession of libertines, sparkling glass in hand, toasted the bliss of past and future nights.”
“... cynicism is the only tool that can scrape away the tint off rose-coloured glasses.”
“Chris reached for the button to raise the window, as if a thin layer of glass could ever protect him from Beckett.”
“Sometimes it slanted against her window with a pinging sound, which meant it was close to hail, and then it was visible as tiny pellets for a moment on the pane before the pellets vanished and rolled quietly down the glass, each drop leaving its own delicate trickle. At other times it fell straight down, hardly touching the window at all, but still there beyond the glass, like a delicate, beaded curtain at the entrance to another room.”
“In our absence, the violet early evening light pours in the bay window, filling the still room like water poured into a glass. The glass is delicate. The thin, tight surface of the liquid light trembles. But it does not break. Time does not pass. Not yet.”