Appearances Quotes in The Princess Bride

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

Annette never had a chance. Inside a season, she went from delicate to whopping, and the Duke never glanced in her direction without sad bewilderment clouding his eyes. (1.4)

Annette used to be the most beautiful woman in the world. But once the Duchess started putting chocolate in her path whenever she could, Annette gained a lot of weight and soon became too fat to be considered attractive. Unfortunately, Goldman here is being really hard on bigger people, suggesting that fatness and ugliness are pretty much the same thing, though of course they aren't at all.

Quote #2

"How could someone care if she were the most beautiful woman in the world or not. What difference could it have made if you were only the third most beautiful. Or the sixth." (1.12)

In her younger years, Buttercup couldn't care less if she were the most beautiful girl in the world—all she really cares about is riding her horse and not bathing. Things change as she gets older, though, and Goldman here might be making a commentary on how people tend to care more about their appearances as they grow into young adulthood.

Quote #3

The farm boy had eyes like the sea before a storm, but who cared about eyes? And he had pale blond hair, if you liked that sort of thing. And he was broad enough in the shoulders, but not all that much broader than the Count. (1.135)

Buttercup has always taken Westley for granted. But once another woman starts showing interest in him, Buttercup needs to lie in bed and admit to herself that Westley is attractive. It's not easy for her, though, because she has always believed that she's way too good for Westley.