“They sit quietly for a moment. It is somehow worse that the house still stands. It is worse that sun and then dark and sun have entered and left those rooms every day, that rain has continued falling on that roof, that the whole thing could be visited again” (132).
Cunningham uses this passage to suggest the theme that time passes and lives continue to be lived even when people are not there to witness it. Clarissa and Louis both realize that this house, which stands for their past together, sat at a standstill as they continued their lives separately. Cunningham makes the point that as humans, past experiences are difficult for us to cope with. He successfully conveys this point through repetition of the phrase “it is worse.” Many people choose to ignore the past because it can lead to regret of what one could have or should have done. Clarissa and Louis realize that “the whole thing,” or their life together, “could be visited again” but that does not mean that it will happen. It makes it that much harder that they realize the option is still there but they both know neither will take the chance. Cunningham shows time passing through the usage of the words “sun” and “dark” to emphasize the fact that Clarissa and Louis’ past together was a very long time ago. Through these few simple sentences, Cunningham brings to life the idea that time will never stop.
Photo Credit:
"Scottish Paintings by Scottish Artists." Scottish Paintings Art Gallery with Canvas Prints. Web. 25 Oct. 2010 <http://www.scottishpaintings.eu/scottishpaintings.html>.
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