Chapter 7 Summary

When Connie goes to bed that night, she examines her naked body in the mirror. In her frustrated mind, her body appears slack and unfulfilled, without any meaningful purpose. At twenty-seven, she already feels old and depressed. Her body feels dulled from neglect. Suddenly she feels cheated by the intellectual life, cheated from the physical as though the force of passion has been stolen from her. She longs for the fresh, clumsy sensuality of her dead German lover. She cries herself to sleep, feeling bitterness against Clifford for neglecting her body and against the injustice of all men who reject the passion of life. In the morning, she is up as usual helping Clifford dress. Gradually, her sense of injustice is growing, and she is beginning to hold Clifford responsible. She begins to question her devotion to Clifford and his allegiance to the...