“Total Eclipse” by Annie Dillard is a meditation on the human confrontation with the immensity of the universe, with particular attention to the theme of mortality and the ephemeral nature of life. Dillard’s depiction of the solar eclipse captures an existential moment in which she feels dwarfed by the infinite, becoming acutely aware of her insignificance. This realization parallels existentialist notions articulated by philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, who wrote of the inherent absurdity of life—which juxtaposes humans’ desire for meaning and an indifferent universe—and the feelings of alienation people feel in the vastness of the universe, respectively. Dillard’s assertion that “meaning” and “significance” are “for people” further illustrates her alignment with existential philosophy, which purports that life has no meaning or purpose aside from that which humans ascribe to it.

The essay also wrestles with the concept of death, the dread or anxiety of which, in existentialism, can be a motivating factor in living authentically and fully as an individual. In Dillard’s essay, the eclipse serves as a metaphor for death. Just as the light is obscured, life too can be eclipsed, suddenly and unexpectedly. The onset of darkness, silence, and the momentary eradication of the familiar evokes the void that death presents.