Femme fatale Quote by Guy de Maupassant
““A boat with an awning and containing four women came slowly downstream towards them. The woman at the oars was small, lean, and past her prime. She wore her hair pinned up inside an oilskin hat. Opposite her a big blonde dressed in a man's jacket was lying on her back at the bottom of the boat with a foot resting on the thwart on either side of the oarswoman. The blonde was smoking a cigarette and with each jerk of the oars her bosom and belly quivered. At the very stern of the boat under the awning two beautiful, tall, slender girls, one blonde and the other brunette, sat with their arms round each other's waists watching their two companions. A shout went up from La Grenouillere: "Aye-aye! Lesbos!" and suddenly a wild clamor broke out. In the terrifying scramble to see, glasses were knocked over and people started climbing on the tables. Everyone began to chant "Lesbos! Lesbos! Lesbos!" The words merged into a vague howl before suddenly starting up again, rising into the air, filling the plain beyond, resounding in the dense foliage of the tall surrounding trees and echoing in the distance as if aimed at the sun itself.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: "Lesbos" by Guy de Maupassant, 1885
A vivid, chaotic scene of revelry and desire, highlighting sensuality and collective frenzy in a rural setting.
In simple terms: A wild, sensual crowd celebrates and chants, creating a feverish atmosphere.
Key Takeaway
Observe the power of collective emotion in shaping experience.
Themes
desire
chaos
ritual
gender
nature
Mood
intense
exuberant
raw
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- festival
- rural gathering
- public spectacle
- spontaneous chant
Key Concepts
sensuality
collective hysteria
ritualistic chant
Questions to Reflect On
- How does communal chanting amplify personal desire?
- What does the setting reveal about gender dynamics?
A Different Perspective
The portrayal may romanticize objectification and overlook individual agency.
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