Gothic-fantasy Quote by Mervyn Peake
““Swelter's eyes meet those of his enemy, and never has there held between four globes of gristle so sinister a hell of hatred. Had the flesh, the fibres, and the bones of the chef and those of Mr Flay been conjured away and away down that dark corridor leaving only their four eyes suspended in mid-air outside the Earl's door, then, surely, they must have reddened to the hue of Mars, reddened and smouldered, and at last broken into flame, so intense was their hatred - broken into flame and circled about one another in ever-narrowing gyres and in swifter and yet swifter flight until, merged into one sizzling globe of ire they must surely have fled, the four in one, leaving a trail of blood behind them in the cold grey air of the corridor, until, screaming as they fly beneath innumerable arches and down the endless passageways of Gormenghast, they found their eyeless bodies once again, and reentrenched themselves in startled sockets.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake, 1946
Intense mutual hatred is depicted as a fiery, spiraling force that consumes the enemies, illustrating how hatred can become self‑destructive and all‑consuming.
In simple terms: Hatred becomes a burning vortex that destroys its owners.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and temper hatred before it engulfs you.
Themes
hatred
destruction
obsession
psychology
Mood
dark
intense
foreboding
Type
literary
descriptive
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- personal conflict
- literary analysis
- mental health counseling
- creative writing
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
self‑destructive cycles
emotional intensity
metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What fuels your deepest animosity?
- How can you transform that energy into constructive action?
A Different Perspective
Hatred may also motivate protective actions, not only self‑destruction.
