Evidence
He felt only an emptiness in his head and a coolness at his temples—he was very near fainting, wanted to faint, and then, strangely beyond fainting, experienced a relief which was the comfort of a page turned, and the day over. — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 482
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Fear under bombardment can transform into a strangely pleasurable, childlike terror — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 420; A person can simultaneously feel mortal fear and detached, buoyant calm — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 436; Extreme fear can shrink a person’s presence to something almost weightless — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 427 (+13 more)
Library Connections
- Total sensory absence can feel generative rather than merely frightening
#corroborates(0.80) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 496 - Extreme physical silence can produce deep restfulness rather than only distress
#corroborates(0.80) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 496
Broader Connections
- Passive drift toward disaster can feel seductive rather than frightening
#corroborates(0.75) — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 293 - Total abandonment and isolation can register as pleasure rather than dread
#exemplifies(0.75) — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 506 - Wartime disorientation can dissolve into a feeling of self-sufficient freedom rather than fear
#corroborates(0.72) — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 423 - People can simultaneously dread and desire the catastrophic events they anticipate
#corroborates(0.70) — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 509 - Anticipatory dread of loss can coexist with intense present happiness
#corroborates(0.65) — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 268