We couldn't imagine the emptiness of a creature who put a razor to her wrists and opened her veins, the emptiness and the calm.
Jeffrey EugenidesRead
She had given birth to me and nursed me and brought me up. She had known me before I knew myself and now she had no say in the matter. Life started out one thing and then suddenly turned a corner and became something else.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the deep connection and changes in the relationship between a child and their mother over time.
Jeffrey Eugenides' quote captures the profound bond between a mother and her child, emphasizing how a mother's influence shapes a child's identity and experiences from the very beginning. It also highlights the sometimes unexpected shifts in life that alter familial dynamics, suggesting that there are moments when roles shift and choices become limited.
Themes
MotherFamilyIdentityLifeChange
In practice
Example use cases
During a mother's day speech, one might use this quote to highlight the journey of motherhood.
More from Jeffrey Eugenides
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Depression is like a bruise that never goes away. A bruise in your mind. You just got to be careful not to touch it where it hurts. It's always there, though.
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She lost much of her appetite. At night, an invisible hand kept shaking her awake every few hours. Grief was physiological, a disturbance of the blood. Sometimes a whole minute would pass in nameless dread - the bedside clock ticking, the blue moonlight coating the window like glue - before she`d remember the brutal fact that had caused it.
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It was one of those humid days when the atmosphere gets confused. Sitting on the porch, you could feel it: the air wishing it was water.
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Jerome was sliding and climbing on top of me and it felt like it had the night before, like a crushing weight. So do boys and men announce their intentions. They cover you like a sarcophagus lid. And call it love.
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