After all, damn it, what does being in love mean if you can't trust a person.
Evelyn WaughRead
...she had regained what I thought she had lost forever, the magical sadness which had drawn me to her, the thwarted look that had seemed to say, "Surely I was made for some other purpose than this?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on a bittersweet longing for a deeper connection amidst sadness.
In this quote, Evelyn Waugh captures the essence of a complicated relationship where a person feels both sadness and a sense of purpose in that emotional turmoil. The 'magical sadness' serves as a reminder of the beauty found in vulnerability and the depth of feelings that can arise when one feels misunderstood or destined for something greater, creating an attraction that is both powerful and melancholic.
Themes
SadnessLongingPurposeRelationshipAttraction
In practice
Example use cases
In a literature class discussing themes of love and sadness.
More from Evelyn Waugh
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Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.
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That was the change in her from ten years ago; that, indeed, was her reward, this haunting, magical sadness which spoke straight to the heart and struck silence; it was the completion of her beauty.
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That's the public-school system all over. They may kick you out, but they never let you down.
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