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
Well, marriage doesn't function in the way it used to in terms of deciding our fate, but it's in our heads, and it determines a lot of our actions. Like, right now, if you think about gay marriage - and they just started having the first gay marriages in New York - it shows what a potent idea marriage remains for people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Marriage is a significant concept that influences our behaviors and decisions, regardless of its changing societal functions.
Jeffrey Eugenides highlights the evolving nature of marriage and its profound impact on personal and social behavior. Even as the traditional roles and implications of marriage shift, the idea remains powerful and affects the way people, particularly in the context of gay marriage, navigate their relationships and societal norms.
Themes
MarriageRelationshipsSocietyGay MarriageImpact
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about modern relationships, one might use this quote to illustrate the evolving perceptions of marriage.
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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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