And really, the reason we think of death in celestial terms is that the visible firmament, especially at night (above our blacked-out Paris with the gaunt arches of its Boulevard Exelmans and the ceaseless Alpine gurgle of desolate latrines), is the most adequate and ever-present symbol of that vast silent explosion.

Summary

This quote suggests that people connect the concept of death with celestial imagery because the expansive and awe-inspiring night sky, particularly when contrasted with the desolate urban landscape, serves as a fitting representation of the profound and overwhelming finality associated with death. The powerful imagery of the night sky acts as a constant reminder of the vastness and mysteriousness of the universe, evoking thoughts of mortality and the transcendent nature of death.

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