Quote by Simone de Beauvoir
The younger and healthier a woman is and the more her new and glossy body seems destined for eternal freshness, the less useful is artifice; but the carnal weakness of this prey that man takes and its ominous deterioration always have to be hidden from him...In any case, the more traits and proportions of a woman seem contrived, the more she delighted the heart of man because she seemed to escape the metamorphosis of natural things. The result is this strange paradox that by desiring to grasp nature, but transfigured, in woman, man destines her to artifice.
Summary
This quote explores the paradoxical nature of man's perception of women. It suggests that men are drawn to the youthful and seemingly natural beauty of women, yet are also wary of their inevitable aging and decay. As women age, the need for artifice increases in order to conceal the signs of their physical vulnerability. Men both desire women as natural beings and seek to transform them into something beyond nature, privileging artificial beauty that betrays the natural course of life. The quote implies that this contradiction arises from men's desire to possess and control women while avoiding the harsh reality of impermanence.
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
