Before The World Was Made If I make the lashes dark and…
“Before The World Was Made If I make the lashes dark and the eyes more bright and the lips more scarlet, or ask if all be right from mirror after mirror, no vanity's displayed: I'm looking for the face I had before the world was made. What if I look upon a man as though on my beloved, and my blood be cold the while and my heart unmoved? Why should he think me cruel or that he is betrayed? I'd have him love the thing that was before the world was made.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker seeks an original, unaltered self before societal influences, questioning authenticity and emotional detachment
In simple terms: Desire for a pure, pre‑world self; fear of losing authenticity
Key Takeaway
Reflect on inner truth before external expectations
Themes
identity
authenticity
self‑reflection
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal introspection
- artistic creation
- relationship dynamics
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
self‑image
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “the face before the world was made” represent?
- How can one maintain authenticity amid external pressures?
A Different Perspective
Self‑image can be distorted by societal expectations