She brightened. 'Last week I ran a personal ad in the Guardian. I answered a few too. I'm not looking for sex; I feel too vulnerable for that. I just want somebody to hurt me and humiliate me.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Gaitskill explores vulnerability and desire for emotional pain. The speaker admits to seeking humiliation instead of connection.
- In plain terms
- She wants to be hurt instead of having sex.
- What can you take from it?
- Deep insecurity can manifest as a desire for pain.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does intimacy mean to you?
- Why seek pain?
Another view
It depicts a specific and extreme psychological state.
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