Cloud 9 Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Cloud 9. Caryl Churchill. Routledge, 2000.

Quote #1

"Harry, I love you." (1.2.257)

The first real declaration of love we hear in this play comes from a little boy named Edward who tells a grown man named Harry that he loves him. The strange part is that Edward does not mean love in the Platonic sense. He means full-blown romantic, sexual love. And even though Churchill slips this casually into the play, chances are there are more than a few critics out there who think Churchill got a little too broad with her definition of "love."

Quote #2

"I love Harry Bagley. I want to go away with him. There, I've said it, it's true." (1.2.300-301)

Betty admits to Ellen that she loves Harry Bagley and wants to go away with him. But her love is doomed in a couple of ways. First, there's no way she will ever bring herself to leave Clive. Second, Harry is actually having sex with her young son and planning to put the moves on her husband, too.

Quote #3

"I don't hate you, Betty, I love you." (1.2.319)

While Betty's talking about how much she loves Harry Bagley, Ellen takes her cue to tell Betty that she loves her. And again, not in the Platonic sense. Ellen is gay and she wants to be with Betty.