Of the widow's countless death-duties there is really just one that matters: on the first anniversary of her husband's death the widow should think I kept myself alive.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
You can't deny Eros. Eros wills trike, like lightning. Our human defenses are frail, ludicrous. Like plasterboard houses in a hurricane. Your triumph is in perfect submission. And the god of Eros will flow through you, as Lawrence says, in the 'perfect obliteration of blood consciousness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the irresistible and powerful nature of love, likening its force to a storm that overwhelms our defenses.
Joyce Carol Oates reflects on the overwhelming power of love, represented by Eros, which strikes unexpectedly and forcefully. It suggests that our attempts to shield ourselves from love's impact are often weak and foolish, akin to flimsy structures unable to withstand a natural disaster. The ultimate victory in love comes not from resistance, but from surrender to its divine current, leading to a profound transformation of consciousness.
Themes
ErosLoveSubmissionPowerTransformation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a wedding toast celebrating the power of love.
More from Joyce Carol Oates
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My writing is often a way of 'bearing witness' for others who lack the education and the opportunity to tell their own stories, so I hope that my writing won't be affected too much by my personal life.
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The worst cynicism: a belief in luck.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
. . . there is a wish in the heart of mankind to be distracted and confused. Truth is but one attraction, and not always the most powerful.
Joyce Carol OatesRead
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