Sex Quotes in Middlesex

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

At night, in their bedroom, [Desdemona had] seen her sleeping brother press against his rope mattress as though angry with it. (1.2.41)

Um, let's just say Lefty isn't angry with his mattress. You see, sometimes a man and a mattress love each other very much... Okay, it's not love, it's the uncontrollable lust that comes with overflowing hormones at a young age. Lefty has a hard time keeping them to himself.

Quote #2

[Desdemona] and Lefty are children again (except they have adult bodies). They're lying in the same bed (except now it's their parents' bed). They shift their limbs in sleep (and it feels extremely nice, how they shift, and the bed is wet) (1.2.84)

Desdemona and Lefty are clearly lusting after each other here. The lust is manifesting itself in Desdemona's dreams. Why do you think she sees them as children? Is it because lust is such a primal emotion?

Quote #3

[Desdemona] spread her legs. She opened her arms for Lefty, who twisted around, chafing his knees and elbows, dislodging oars, nearly setting off a flare, until finally he fell into her softness, swooning. (1.4.52)

Woo! Now this is the love boat. Even the small space of a lifeboat cannot contain the passion between these two. We don't think anything could contain them at this point.