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I once asked the servants why none of them had blue eyes…

“I once asked the servants why none of them had blue eyes like my aunts. They replied that only the ladies could afford to buy the blue glass cups in which they kept their eyes at night to make them more blue and beautiful, and furthermore, if we went on asking silly questions, the rats that steal…” quote by José Donoso
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““I once asked the servants why none of them had blue eyes like my aunts. They replied that only the ladies could afford to buy the blue glass cups in which they kept their eyes at night to make them more blue and beautiful, and furthermore, if we went on asking silly questions, the rats that steal the faces of inquisitive children in order to wear them as masks would come to take us to live in the twilit world between the ceiling and the roof where no one ever dared to go.””

José Donoso

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A surreal critique of social class, illusion, and the fear of questioning norms.

In simple terms: Class and illusion are explored through bizarre imagery.

Key Takeaway

Question appearances and social constructs.

Themes

class illusion fear questioning surrealism

Mood

enigmatic thought‑provoking

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • literary analysis
  • social commentary
  • psychological study

Key Concepts

social critique mythic symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the blue glass cup symbolize?
  • How does fear shape societal behavior?
A Different Perspective

The story may be misinterpreted as mere fantasy.

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