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Albertine Quote by Marcel Proust

“Her blue, almond-shaped eyes - now even more elongated - had altered in appearance; they were indeed of the same colour, but seemed to have passed into a liquid state. So much so that, when she closed them, it was as though a pair of curtains had been drawn to shut out a view of the sea.” quote by Marcel Proust
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““Her blue, almond-shaped eyes - now even more elongated - had altered in appearance; they were indeed of the same colour, but seemed to have passed into a liquid state. So much so that, when she closed them, it was as though a pair of curtains had been drawn to shut out a view of the sea.””

Marcel Proust

About This Quote

Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time, Volume 1, 1913

The description conveys how her eyes become fluid, like curtains that block a view, suggesting a shift from clarity to opacity.

In simple terms: Her eyes seem liquid, hiding the sea beyond.

Key Takeaway

Notice how perception can become a veil.

Themes

perception vision illusion beauty

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

  • reading literature
  • art critique
  • psychological analysis

Key Concepts

subjectivity metaphor sensory description

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the curtain imagery reveal about her inner world?
  • How does fluidity affect our understanding of sight?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may over‑emphasize mystery, obscuring the character’s true emotions.

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