Forgetting someone is never easy; someone you love even moreso. Here we’ve deep-dived into Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind quotes by Alexander Pope.
“Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind”, meaning a mind that does not dwell on the troubles of the past, and is not tempted by earthly passions. The quote begs to ask the question: is it better to live a life of ignorance, free from the pains of the world, or to have a life fully lived.
In this article, we’ll deep-dive into the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind quote meaning. And have a deeper look into why exactly the quote is the way it is.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004 Movie)
The movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is about lovers Clementine and Joel. Even though they are polar opposites, they are inexplicably attracted to each other and quickly develop a bond.
Things turned rocky in their relationship after some time. And, after a particularly nasty fight, Clementine underwent a procedure to erase her memories of him. When Joel finds out about this, he did the same out of desperation.
As he’s doing so, he sees both good and bad memories they’ve shared, and he realizes that he still wants to hold on to these memories as he still loves her.
Source: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Film, from wallpapercave
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Quote Alexander Pope
The absolutely brilliant film was based on Alexander Pope’s Eloisa to Abélard (which the receptionist mentions to Joel during his procedure). Which the author again based on the clandestine love of Héloïse d’Argenteuil to Peter Abélard.
The book is about Eloisa who is a young, smart girl who is the niece of the Fulbert- a high church official in Paris, and her tutor- Abelard. They had an affair that led to Eloisa’s conceiving, and later, their secret marriage. When word spread about their affair, he persuaded Eloisa to take the vow of silence in the convent of Argenteuil to protect her.
This did not fare well with the family, however, as they thought it was his attempt to get rid of her. Fulbert paid ruffians to attack Abelard, and worse- castrate him. Abelard would then spend his days as a monk in the Abbey of St Denis.
Following years of separation, they exchanged letters where Eloisa expressed feelings of consternation and anguish. One where she regrets the damage their affair has caused. Furthermore, anguishes over the fact that he won’t be able to physically return her love. She then ends it by saying that it is better to live a life forgetting about them, and their affair.
Source: Edmund Leighton, from Wikipedia
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Quote Meaning
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d;
Source: Bernard d’Agesci, from Wikipedia
Eloisa still had feelings for Abelard, however, she worries that he may not be able to return her love. She’s envious of the vestals who are able to live a life, free from the temptations and sorrow of the world. In a bit of a desperation, she pleads that their love be forgotten.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in this context is about a mind that does not dwell on the hardships of the past. Eloisa sees it as an innocent mind that does not have to account for its own sin. People who’ve achieved this, as she sees it, are eternally happy.
Each Prayer Accepted and Each Wish Resigned
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d;
In this line, Eloisa is saying that God has granted her wish of having an “innocent mind” (i.e. a mind that does not linger on the hardships, disassociated from pain).
5 Poem Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Quotes
Source: William Hoare, from National Portrait Gallery
#1
Yet here for ever, ever must I stay;
Sad proof how well a lover can obey!
Death, only death, can break the lasting chain;
And here, ev’n then, shall my cold dust remain,
Here all its frailties, all its flames resign,
And wait till ’tis no sin to mix with thine.
#2
Come, Abelard! for what hast thou to dread?
The torch of Venus burns not for the dead.
Nature stands check’d; Religion disapproves;
Ev’n thou art cold–yet Eloisa loves.
Ah hopeless, lasting flames! like those that burn
To light the dead, and warm th’ unfruitful urn.
#3
How often hope, despair, resent, regret,
Conceal, disdain–do all things but forget.
But let Heav’n seize it, all at once ’tis fir’d;
Not touch’d, but rapt; not waken’d, but inspir’d!
Oh come! oh teach me nature to subdue,
Renounce my love, my life, myself–and you.
#4
Far other dreams my erring soul employ,
Far other raptures, of unholy joy:
When at the close of each sad, sorrowing day,
Fancy restores what vengeance snatch’d away,
Then conscience sleeps, and leaving nature free,
All my loose soul unbounded springs to thee.
#5
Condemn’d whole years in absence to deplore,
And image charms he must behold no more;
Such if there be, who loves so long, so well;
Let him our sad, our tender story tell;
The well-sung woes will soothe my pensive ghost;
He best can paint ’em, who shall feel ’em most.
25 Movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Quotes
Source: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Film, from tumblr
The poem and the movie The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are similar in many ways. Clementine and Eloisa both want to be free from the shackles of their love. In the film, however, Clementine is willing to try again.
Below, we’ve listed some quotes from the movie, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
#1 Joel: “Are we like those bored couples you feel sorry for in restaurants? Are we the dining dead?”
#2 Joel: “Constantly talking isn’t necessarily communicating.”
#3 Joel: [voice over] “Random thoughts for Valentine’s day, 2004. Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.”
#4 Joel: “Look at it out here, it’s all falling apart. I’m erasing you and I’m happy!”
#5 Joel: “I can’t see anything that I don’t like about you.”
#6 Clementine: “I don’t need nice. I don’t need myself to be it, and I don’t need anybody else to be it at me.”
#7 Clementine: “My embarrassing admission is I really like that you’re nice, right now.”
#8 Clementine: “But you will! You will think of things, and I’ll get bored of you and feel trapped because that’s what happens with me!”
#9 Clementine: “Too many guys think I’m a concept, or I complete them, or I’m gonna make them alive. But I’m just a fucked-up girl who’s lookin’ for my own peace of mind; don’t assign me yours.”
#10 Clementine: “I’m always anxious, thinking I’m not living my life to the fullest, taking advantage of every possibility, make sure I’m not wasting one second of the little time I have.”
#11 Clementine: “Come back and make up a good-bye at least. Let’s pretend we had one.”
#12 Clementine: “People have to share things. That’s what intimacy is.”
#13
Joel: “I don’t know. What if it breaks?”
Clementine: “What if? Do you really care right now?”
#14 Joel: “I could die right now… I’m just so happy. I’ve never felt that before. I’m just exactly where I want to be.”
#15 Joel: “I thought I knew her so well, but I don’t know her at all. What a loss to spend that much time with someone, only to find out that she’s a stranger.”
#16 Mary: “Adults are, like, this mess of sadness and phobias.”
#17
Clementine: What are you, NUTS?
Joel: It’s been suggested.
#18 Joel: “Please let me keep this memory, just this one.”
#19 Mary: “Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders.”
#20
Clementine: “Look man, I’m telling you right off the bat I’m high maintenance. So I’m not gonna tip-toe around your marriage or whatever it is ya got goin’ on there. If you wanna be with me, you’re with me.”
Joel: “Okay.”
#21 Clementine: “Drink up, young man. It’ll make the whole seduction part less repugnant.”
#22 Stan: “You looked happy. Happy with a secret.”
#23 Clementine: “You’ll remember me in the morning and you’ll come to me, and you’ll tell me about us, and we’ll start over.”
#24 Joel: “I think if there’s this truly seductive quality about Clementine, it’s that her personality promises to take you out of the mundane. It’s like an amazing, burning meteorite that will carry you to another world where things are exciting.”
#25 Clementine Kruczynski: “Meet me in Montauk.”
Wrapping Up
Similar to Joel and Clementine, the story of Eloisa and Abelard is one filled with sadness, and bittersweet hope. It’s about wanting to forget about a once ethereal love that turned into something painful. It’s about being able to love, but your love has no point. But it’s also about finding that passion you two once had and trying again.
And, to answer our question at the beginning of this article: having memories, even the painful ones, will prevent you from making the same mistakes again. It helps us become who we are, and shapes our core selves. What is your take on this?
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