Clothing Quote by Machado de Assis
““Imagine a man between thirty-eight and forty, tall, slim, and pale. His clothes, except for their style, looked as if they'd escaped from the Babylonian captivity. The hat was a contemporary of one of Gessler's. Imagine now a frock coat broader than the needs of his frame--or, literally, that person's bones. The fringe had disappeared some time ago, of the eight original buttons, three were left. The brown drill trousers had two strong knee patches, while the cuffs had been chewed by the heels of boots that bore no pity or polish. About his neck the ends of a tie of two faded colors floated, gripping a week-old collar. I think he was also wearing a dark silk vest, torn in places and unbuttoned. "I'll bet you don't know me, my good Dr. Cubas," he said. "I can't recall..." "I'm Borba, Quincas Borba.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Quincas Borba by Machado de Assis, 1891
A vivid physical description reveals a disheveled, aging man whose appearance reflects his inner decay and social alienation.
In simple terms: A man’s worn look shows his inner emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Notice how appearance can betray inner truth.
Themes
appearance
decay
alienation
social critique
Mood
melancholy
critical
reflective
Type
literary
character analysis
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- character study
- historical context
Key Concepts
existentialism
identity
class
Questions to Reflect On
- What does his attire say about his status?
- How does physical decay mirror moral decay?
A Different Perspective
The description may romanticize poverty, overlooking systemic causes.
