Disgrace David Lurie Quotes

David Lurie

Quote 4

Would they dare to share a bed while he was in the house? If the bed creaked in the night, would they be embarrassed? Embarrassed enough to stop? But what does he know about what women do together? Maybe women do not need to make beds creak. (10.57)

The narrator doesn't hit you over the head with the fact that Lucy is a lesbian, but instead reveals it to us through David's thoughts and curiosities about her sexual experiences. What is interesting about this quote is that it shows David wondering about what sex is like when it is a purely female experience. He's not just wondering about what sex is like for Lucy, but rather what sex is like in the absence of a man. As far as David is concerned, it is his experience of sex "as a man" that has gotten him into trouble up until this point. Maybe sex between women is purer and less violent?

David Lurie

Quote 5

Two blankets, one pink, one grey, smuggled from her home by a woman who in the last hour has probably bathed and powdered and anointed herself in readiness; who has, for all he knows, been powdering and anointing herself every Sunday, and storing blankets in the cabinet, just in case. Who thinks, because he comes from the big city, because there is scandal attached to his name, that he makes love to many women and expects to be made love to by every woman who crosses his path. […] Bev. Never did he dream he would sleep with a Bev. (17.26-27)

Well, we don't actually know if what David thinks about Bev's preparations is actually true – maybe she hasn't been holding out to have sex with him all this time – but we'll also never know that. What we do get here, though, is David's perspective on the sexual image he puts forth. It seems part cocky and part insecure – he wants to think that others see him as a mysterious Don Juan from the big city, but at the same time, he seems not to want to be boxed in just like that.

He sits down on the bed, draws her to him. In his arms she begins to sob miserably. Despite all, he feels a tingling of desire. "There, there," he whispers, trying to comfort her. "Tell me what is wrong." Almost he says, "Tell Daddy what is wrong." (3.82)

Whoa, hold up there, David. Here, we have this weird crossover between David's sexual instincts and his fatherly instincts. In spite of his interest in Melanie's beauty and youthfulness, we also see David acting as a father figure towards her (in his daughter's old room, no less!).