...but that very thought, that she might become his wife…
““...but that very thought, that she might become his wife, had for some reason entered his head the very first time she sat in his study at a little round table, diligently taking down in shorthand the words he dictated in his muffled voice—and he had been purposely dry and sharp with her that day, so she would not feel the power she had already gained over him, but when, as he dictated to her, he imagined himself kneeling before her beneath the flickering light of a nearly spent candle and kissing her feet, with her unable to leave because she was his wife, and about to blow out the candle so they could plunge into the passionate, exquisite swim, then his voice became hoarse and he shut his eyes to blot out the sight of this little girl, as he purposely tried to picture her to help restrain his imagination, girl students being as untouchable as postulants...””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A man struggles with imagined intimacy, fearing loss of control, and suppresses desire through duty.
In simple terms: He imagines a wife, feels powerless, and tries to control his thoughts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance desire with responsibility.
Themes
love
marriage
imagination
power dynamics
self-control
Mood
conflicted
introspective
Type
narrative
psychological
When to use this quote
- novel
- inner monologue
- character study
Key Concepts
psychological conflict
fantasy vs reality
sexual tension
Questions to Reflect On
- What does his restraint reveal?
- How does power shape affection?
A Different Perspective
Imagined intimacy can distort reality.