Lords and ladies Quote by Robert Lowell
““Oh Florence, Florence, patroness of the lovely tyrannicides! Where the tower of the Old Palace pierces the sky like a hypodermic needle, Perseus, David and Judith, lords and ladies of the Blood, Greek demi-gods of the Cross, rise sword in hand above the unshaven formless decapitation of the monsters, tubs of guts, mortifying chunks for the pack. Pity the monsters! Pity the monsters! Perhaps, one always took the wrong side - Ah, to have known, to have loved too many David and Judiths! My heart bleeds for the monster. I have seen the Gorgon. The erotic terror of her helpless, big-bosomed body lay like slop. Wall-eyed, staring the despot to stone, her severed head swung like a lantern in the victor’s hand.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Gorgon" (hypothetical), 1970s
The poet mourns the monstrous, empathizing with the vilified, contrasting heroic myth with grotesque empathy.
In simple terms: Sympathy for monsters over heroes.
Key Takeaway
Find humanity in the condemned.
Themes
mythology
empathy
violence
dualism
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- philosophical debate
- art critique
Key Concepts
heroic archetype
monster symbolism
moral ambiguity
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we glorify heroes over monsters?
- What does empathy for monsters reveal about morality?
A Different Perspective
The graphic imagery may be unsettling for some.
