How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He wrote Helen a long confessional letter about his "lust," as he called it—and how it did not compare to his higher feelings for her, as he referred to them. (4.129)
Garp makes a distinction between lust and love (a.k.a. "his higher feelings) at a young age. And with that, the tone is set for Garp relationship-wise going forward.
Quote #2
"I want to know about male lust," Jenny said. "About your lust. She must know something about that." (5.101)
Jenny is clueless about sexuality. We can't help but wonder if Garp would've turned out differently if she felt otherwise.
Quote #3
"I want to know if it degrades her to feel wanted in that way—and then to be had in that way, I suppose—or whether she thinks it only degrades the men?" (5.121)
It's telling that Jenny isn't interested in asking whether lust "degrades" men—she already knows that, silly.
Quote #4
Garp found that he could forget her; lust, as his mother called it, was tricky that way. (6.68)
Lust without love is unsustainable. The trick, of course, is to find someone who stirs both emotions.
Quote #5
Garp didn't want a daughter, because of men. Because of bad men, certainly; but even, he thought, because of men like me. (7.241)
Garp would never do something to a woman against her will, but even he must admit that his lustful sexuality can be just as harmful to the people he encounters.
Quote #6
He meant that he had outgrown baby-sitters. But lust itself? Ah, well. Jenny Fields had fingered a problem at the heart of her son's heart. (8.52)
Garp's chief flaw is something that Jenny knows nothing about. He must've gotten it from his dad's side of the family—no one was more unashamedly sexual than the elder T.S. Garp.
Quote #7
"Every time you can't write you do something stupid," Helen said. "Though I'll confess that this is a better idea for a diversion than your last diversion." (9.88)
Garp's lust is associated with his self-esteem. If he's satisfied with his work, then it's smooth sailing. If not—well, just go ahead and grab a lifejacket.
Quote #8
The issue was not writing. The issue is me, Helen thought; I want someone paying attention to me. (12.126)
Garp thinks that his affairs won't impact Helen, but—duh—he's wrong. This naïve mentality is directly responsible for sparking Helen's own affair.
Quote #9
It was perhaps his contact with Ellen James that finally cured him of ever looking at young girls in that way [...] Enough of his life had been influenced by lust. (18.29)
Essentially, Ellen becomes Garp's daughter. She understands the dark side of lust better than most, which helps Garp handle his own demons.