Gaze Quote by Dorothy Dunnett
““Jerott?’ said Lymond. ‘What are you not saying?’ His eyes, as the orderly cavalcade paced through the muddy streets, had not left that forceful aquiline face since they met. And Jerott, Philippa saw with disbelief, flushed. For a moment longer, the strict blue eyes studied him; and then Lymond laughed. ‘She’s an eighteen-year-old blonde of doubtful virginity? Or more frightful still, an eighteen-year-old blonde of unstained innocence? I shall control my impulses, Jerott, I promise you. I’m only going to throw her out if she looks like a troublemaker, or else so bloody helpless that we’ll lose lives looking after her. Not everyone,’ he said, in a wheeling turn which caught Philippa straining cravenly to hear, ‘is one of Nature’s Marco Polos like the Somerville offspring.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett, 1965
Lymond’s dialogue reveals his complex view of a young woman’s purity versus danger, and his promise to control his impulses.
In simple terms: He debates innocence versus threat and vows restraint.
Key Takeaway
Consider the tension between desire and duty.
Themes
power dynamics
gender
morality
control
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
literary
character study
When to use this quote
- romantic intrigue
- political maneuvering
- personal conflict
- leadership decisions
Key Concepts
temptation
self‑restraint
social perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “control” truly mean here?
- How do societal expectations shape judgments of purity?
A Different Perspective
His promise may be hollow or self‑serving.
