Alexander Quote by Christopher Fry
““JENNET: They also say that I bring back the past; For instance Helen comes Brushing the maggots from her eyes, And, clearing here throat of the dust of several thousand years She says "I loved ..."; but cannot any longer Remember names. Sad Helen. Or Alexander, wearing His imperial cobwebs and breastplate of shining worms Wakens and looks for his glasses, to find the empire Which he knows he put beside his bed.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Lady's Not for Burning, 1948
The quote reflects on how history and memory fade, leaving even great figures reduced to mundane, forgotten details.
In simple terms: Memory erodes over time, even for the mighty.
Key Takeaway
Remember the past before it fades.
Themes
history
memory
impermanence
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- historical analysis
- literary critique
Key Concepts
nostalgia
the passage of time
Questions to Reflect On
- How does forgetting shape identity?
- What can be preserved despite time?
A Different Perspective
The poem may romanticize decay, overlooking resilience.
