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They Flee from Me Sex Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #1

They flee from me that sometime did me seek,
With naked foot stalking in my chamber (1-2)

The speaker refers the feet of his female visitors as "naked." This is a sexy word choice; it makes us think of people with no clothes on and, hence, sex. The lines foreshadow the speaker's more explicit focus on sex later in the poem.

Quote #2

I have seen them gentle tame and meek
That now are wild […] (3-4)

The speaker compares women to animals, which makes it sound as though sex is about dominating women. He thinks he's taming them the way one would a wild animal.

Quote #3

[…] and do not remember
That sometime they put themselves in danger
To take bread at my hand […] (4-6)

The speaker compares sexual activities to "bread" and the metaphor strikes us as a bit strange. Like food, maybe sex is just a necessary part of life, our speaker seems to think. Okay, but then why would it be dangerous? Is there something more complicated going on?