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I didn’t want my picture taken because I was going to cry. I didn’t know why I was going to cry, but I knew that if anybody spoke to me or looked at me too closely the tears would fly out of my eyes and the sobs would fly out of my throat and I’d cry for a week. I could feel the tears brimming and sloshing in me like water in a glass that is unsteady and too full.
Sylvia Plath
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote expresses a deep emotional struggle and the vulnerability of feeling overwhelmed by sadness.

In this quote, Sylvia Plath reveals her internal turmoil and the fear that her emotions will overflow if confronted. It illustrates the profound connection between her feelings and the physical reactions they provoke, emphasizing how overwhelming emotions can make someone retreat from social interaction to avoid displaying their vulnerability.

Themes

EmotionsSadnessVulnerabilityCryingOverwhelmed

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about mental health awareness, one might use this quote to illustrate the hidden struggles many people face.

More from Sylvia Plath

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You walked in, laughing, tears welling confused, mingling in your throat. How can you be so many women to so many people, oh you strange girl?
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I keep wanting to crawl back into the womb.
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It's the living, the eating, the sleeping that everyone needs. Ideas don't matter so much after all. My three best friends are Catholic. I can't see their beliefs, but I can see the things they love to do on earth. When you come right down to it, I do believe in the freedom of the individual.
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Quote by Sylvia Plath | QuoteProject