Ah! thou wouldst not suffer me to kiss thy mouth…
““Ah! thou wouldst not suffer me to kiss thy mouth, Iokanaan. Well! I will kiss it now. I will bite it with my teeth as one bites a ripe fruit. Yes, I will kiss thy mouth, Iokanaan. I said it; did I not say it? I said it. Ah! I will kiss it now . . . . But wherefore dost thou not look at me, Iokanaan? Thine eyes that were so terrible, so full of rage and scorn, are shut now. Wherefore are they shut? Open thine eyes! Lift up thine eyelids, Iokanaan! Wherefore dost thou not look at me? Art thou afraid of me, Iokanaan, that thou wilt not look at me?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A desperate lover pleads for intimacy, confronting rejection and yearning for connection.
In simple terms: A lover begs for a kiss despite being turned away.
Key Takeaway
Seek honest communication over forced intimacy.
Themes
desire
rejection
power dynamics
yearning
Mood
passionate
frustrated
dramatic
Type
dramatic
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- theatrical performance
- personal relationships
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
romantic longing
psychological tension
unrequited love
Questions to Reflect On
- Are you respecting boundaries when seeking closeness?
- How does power imbalance affect intimacy?
A Different Perspective
The speaker's aggression may alienate the desired partner.