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About this quote

What does it mean?
Lessing links pearls to tears through their physical similarity and symbolic connection to sorrow.
In plain terms
Pearls look like tears and often symbolize sadness.
What can you take from it?
Objects can symbolize emotions through physical resemblance.

Where it applies

  • interpreting symbols
  • writing about sadness
  • analyzing jewelry

Putting it to work

  • use objects to represent feelings
  • interpret symbolic imagery

Questions to consider

  • What else can tears represent?
  • How do objects carry emotional weight?

Another view

Pearls also symbolize wealth or purity, not just sadness.

More from Doris Lessing

  1. Man - who is he? Too bad, to be the work of God: Too good for the work of chance!

    Permalink to quote #55
  2. The worst superstition is to consider our own tolerable.

    Permalink to quote #57
  3. It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important.

    Permalink to quote #54

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