First he anointed her eyes, once so covetous of all earthly luxuries; then her nostrils, so gluttonous of caressing breezes and amorous scents; then her mouth, so prompt to lie, so defiant in pride, so loud in lust; then her hands that had thrilled to voluptuous contacts; and finally the soles of her feet, once so swift when she had hastened to slake her desires, and now never to walk again.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A ritual is performed on a dead woman, anointing each body part that once represented a specific sin or desire.
- In plain terms
- A religious ceremony marks the parts of a body that committed sins.
- What can you take from it?
- Rituals can symbolize the end of worldly desires.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What desires do you wish to leave behind?
- How do you mark the end of a chapter?
Another view
The description is graphic and focuses heavily on physical sins.
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