The Ambassadors Old Age Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

'[Y]ou're, as I say, damn you, so happily and hatefully young. Don't at any rate miss things out of stupidity.' (5.2.14)

In case you couldn't sense the jealousy before, Strether refers to Bilham as "hatefully" young, which is pretty much neon with envy. But at the same time, Strether really does value Bilham's friendship and wants what is best for him. The problem is that Strether has such an axe to grind with the whole "I'm old" thing that he doesn't stop to think of what Bilham might actually want.

Quote #8

'Oh but I don't know that I want to be, at your age, too different from you!' (5.2.15)

We're not sure if Bilham is being nice or if he actually believes this, but he tells Strether that he wouldn't mind being just like him when he reaches fifty. Aw. But try as he might, he can't knock Strether off of his speech about enjoying youth. The guy is downright preoccupied. That said, it's still nice of Bilham to say this, and we can sense that deep down, Strether appreciates it.

Quote #9

'The old women who live in [the churches] all know me; in fact I'm already myself one of the old women. It's like that, at all events, that I foresee I shall end.' (7.1.6)

This is one of the few places in the book where we hear Madame de Vionnet talking about her age. It's clear that she's insecure about it, which definitely affects how we might later interpret her sexual relationship with Chad, whose is ten years younger than her.