"But I am a blasted tree; the bolt has entered my soul; and I felt then that I should survive to exhibit what I shall soon cease to be - a miserable spectacle of wrecked humanity, pitiable to others and intolerable to myself"

This quote by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is an effective expression of despair and despondence. It communicates the concept that the speaker has been struck by a terrific tragedy, which they are now a "blasted tree" - a metaphor for a life that has actually been damaged. The speaker feels that they will survive the disaster, but only to end up being a "miserable spectacle of wrecked mankind" - a pitiable sight to others, and an unbearable reminder of their own suffering. The quote talks to the power of disaster to leave a person sensation broken and powerless, and the difficulty of finding hope in the face of such anguish. It is a tip that even in the darkest of times, there is still the possibility of discovering strength and durability.