Herzog Gender Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

Those eyes might be blue, perhaps green, even gray—he would never know. But they were b**** eyes, that was certain. They expressed a female arrogance which had an immediate sexual power over him. (2.25)

This passage is one of the most telling descriptions of Herzog you'll get in this entire book. For the first time in his life, Herzog has been treated like garbage by a woman (Madeleine). Now he has a deep suspicion toward all women who fill him with sexual urges because he hates the power that these women hold over him.

Quote #5

It must be very deep and primitive, the feeling people—women—have against a deceived husband, and I know now that you helped your niece by having Herman take me away to the hockey game. (2.29)

In the mind of Moses Herzog, women start to resent their husbands once they (the women) start having affairs with other men. He doesn't fully know why this is, but deep down, he thinks that Madeleine wants to destroy him.

Quote #6

Female deceit, though, is a deep subject. Thrills of guile. Sexual complicity, conspiracy. Getting in on it. I watched you bully Herman to get a second car, and I know how you can b****! (2.92)

Herzog is at his worst when he thinks about the ways that women deceive and manipulate men. In truth, he's probably just being paranoid. But it's impossible to tell how much of what he's saying is true and how much of it is paranoia.