Broken glass Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald
““All the way back she talked haltingly about herself, and Amory's love waned slowly with the moon. At her door they started from habit to kiss good night, but she could not run into his arms, nor were they stretched to meet her as in the week before. For a minute they stood there, hating each other with a bitter sadness. But as Amory had loved himself in Eleanor, so now what he hated was only a mirror. Their poses were strewn about the pale dawn like broken glass. The stars were long gone and there were left only the little sighing gusts of wind and the silences between... but naked souls are poor things ever, and soon he turned homewards and let new lights come in with the sun.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
The narrator reflects on love's decline, self‑reflection, and the emptiness of longing, using vivid metaphorical imagery.
In simple terms: Love fades, self‑image mirrors pain, and emptiness lingers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how self‑perception shapes relationships.
Themes
love
loss
self‑reflection
Mood
melancholic
poetic
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- breakups
- personal introspection
- nighttime walks
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
existentialism
romanticism
illusion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “mirror” symbolize for the narrator?
- How does the setting amplify emotional tone?
A Different Perspective
The prose is highly stylized, making literal interpretation difficult.
