Final answer:
The quote from Remarque reflects a profound internal yearning that is deeper than physical hunger, hinting at the protagonist's search for meaning and emotional fulfillment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote "The night lives, I live. I feel a hunger, greater than comes from the belly alone" (Remarque 17) speaks to a deep yearning that transcends mere physical needs. This hunger might be interpreted as a quest for meaning, for beauty, or for a sense of purpose that goes beyond the simple act of survival.
This sentiment could resonate with anyone who has felt that life's true sustenance comes not just from food, but from the fulfillment of our emotional and spiritual needs.
The expression of life 'living' through the night signifies not just an awakening of the physical self but the awakening of a person's inner world. The night here serves as a backdrop to the protagonist's existential hunger, emphasizing the magnitude of their deeper desires.
When trying to explain and clarify quotations, it's important to consider the context within which they are presented. The characters, the setting, and the overarching themes of the work all contribute to the meaning of the quote.
In this case, the juxtaposition of night and 'living' suggests a correspondence between internal experience and external conditions, highlighted by the narrator's intensity of feeling that goes beyond physical hunger.
Furthermore, similar quotes across different texts often touch on shared human experiences such as longing for connection, the search for meaning, and confronting life's challenges. Whether it's the struggle depicted in a crisis, a call for true love over life itself, or the revolutionary surge of a new self-image, these quotes reveal the complex inner landscapes of characters and, by extension, our own.