Skip to content

He should in humility have asked her why it was that he…

“He should in humility have asked her why it was that he was naturally a cuckold, why two women of different temperaments and characters had been inspired to have lovers at his expense. He should be telling her, with the warmth of her body warming his, that his second wife had confessed to greater…” quote by William Trevor
Download Open image
““He should in humility have asked her why it was that he was naturally a cuckold, why two women of different temperaments and characters had been inspired to have lovers at his expense. He should be telling her, with the warmth of her body warming his, that his second wife had confessed to greater sexual pleasure when she remembered that she was deceiving him.””

William Trevor

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 reflects on his cuckoldry, linking sexual betrayal to emotional intimacy and the paradox of pleasure in deception.

In simple terms: Cuckoldry reveals complex feelings of betrayal and desire.

Key Takeaway

Explore the tangled emotions of betrayal.

Themes

infidelity humility desire

Mood

melancholic introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • marriage
  • sexual politics
  • personal confession

Key Concepts

psychology literary analysis

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does betrayal affect self‑identity?
  • Can pleasure coexist with deception?
A Different Perspective

The narrative may romanticize harmful power dynamics.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by William Trevor

Explore all 40 William Trevor quotes

More Affairs quotes

Browse all 305 Affairs quotes