How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
I am a theater of processes, [Paul] told himself. I am a prey to the imperfect vision, to the race consciousness, and its terrible purpose. Yet, he could not escape the fear that he had somehow overrun himself, lost his position in time, so that past and future and present mingled without distinction. (40.2-3)
This is your brain on clairvoyant drugs. The fate-and-free-will question comes to a head here. The fate of the individual (Paul) falls prey to the free will of the society (race consciousness). And the race consciousness exists outside of the here and now. What's a present-bound guy to do?