Quote by John Updike
Natural beauty is essentially temporary and sad; hence the impression of obscene mockery which artificial flowers give us
Summary
This quote suggests that natural beauty is fleeting and inherently melancholic. The use of artificial flowers is seen as an obscene mockery because they mimic and imitate the beauty of the natural world, further emphasizing the transience of natural beauty. It implies a sense of sadness and perhaps a critique of society's tendency to value and seek for beauty, which is ultimately short-lived and, therefore, potentially disheartening.
Topics
Beauty
By John Updike