Doris Wales was a woman with straw-blond hair whose body…
““Doris Wales was a woman with straw-blond hair whose body appeared to have been dipped in corn oil; then she must have put her dress on, wet. The dress grabbed at all her parts, and plunged and sagged over the gaps in her body; a lover’s line of hickeys, or love bites – ‘love-sucks,’ Franny called them – dotted Doris’s chest and throat like a violent rash; the welts were like wounds from a whip. She wore plum-covered lipstick, some of which was on her teeth, and she said, to Sabrina Jones and me, ‘You want hot-dancin’ music, or slow-neckin’ music? Or both?’ ‘Both,’ said Sabrina Jones, without missing a beat, but I felt certain that if the world would stop indulging wars and famines and other perils, it would still be possible for human beings to embarrass each other to death. Our self-destruction might take a little longer that way, but I believe it would be no less complete.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human beings can ruin each other even without wars, through petty cruelty and competition.
In simple terms: People can destroy each other in everyday life.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate empathy and kindness.
Themes
human nature
violence
society
interpersonal conflict
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace
- family
- social media
Key Concepts
psychology
social dynamics
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do everyday interactions reflect larger societal flaws?
- What practices foster mutual respect?
A Different Perspective
Human cruelty can be subtle and pervasive, not just overt.