Odours Quote by Angela Carter
““If we have largely forgotten the physical discomforts of the itching, oppressive garments of the past and the corrosive effects of perpetual physical discomfort on the nerves, then we have mercifully forgotten, too, the smells of the past, the domestic odours -- ill-washed flesh; infrequently changed underwear; chamber pots; slop-pails; inadequately plumbed privies; rotting food; unattended teeth; and the streets are no fresher than indoors, the omnipresent acridity of horse piss and dung, drains, sudden stench of old death from butchers' shops, the amniotic horror of the fishmonger. You would drench your handkerchief with cologne and press it to your nose. You would splash yourself with parma violet so that the reek of fleshly decay you always carried with you was overlaid by that of the embalming parlour. You would abhor the air you breathed.””
About This Quote
The quote lists past physical squalor to illustrate how modern comforts mask deeper, lingering disgust and decay.
In simple terms: We forget past filth, yet still feel revulsion.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden disgust beneath comfort.
Themes
history
sensory memory
disgust
modernity
comfort
Mood
cynical
melancholic
Type
critical
observational
When to use this quote
- urban living
- historical reflection
- personal hygiene
- environmental awareness
Key Concepts
psychology
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern comforts hide uncomfortable truths?
- How does sensory memory shape our perception of progress?
A Different Perspective
The vivid list may overwhelm, limiting broader insight.
