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Paula
One of Fefu’s friends, Cecilia used to be in a romantic relationship with Paula, but the two women haven’t stayed in touch in the aftermath of their breakup. Cecilia is less forthcoming about her emotions than Paula is, mainly listening as Paula talks about how much their relationship meant to her. However, in a gesture of tenderness after Paula starts crying in front of their friends, Cecilia kisses Paula, perhaps suggesting that their romantic relationship isn’t completely over after all.
Cecilia Quotes in Fefu and Her Friends
The Fefu and Her Friends quotes below are all either spoken by Cecilia or refer to Cecilia. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 2: In the Bedroom Quotes
PAULA: I felt small in your presence . . . I haven’t done all that I could have. All I wanted to do. Our lives have gone in such different directions I cannot help but review what those years have been for me. I gave up, almost gave up. I have missed you in my life. . . . I became lazy. I lost the drive. You abandoned me and I kept going. But after a while I didn’t know how to. I didn’t know how to go on. I knew why when I was with you. To give you pleasure. So we could laugh together. So we could rejoice together. To bring beauty to the world. . . . Now we look at each other like strangers. We are guarded. I speak and you don’t understand my words. I remember every day.
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Cecilia Character Timeline in Fefu and Her Friends
The timeline below shows where the character Cecilia appears in Fefu and Her Friends. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1
...before coming to and announcing that she has to go lie down. As she leaves, Cecilia—the final houseguest—arrives at the front door.
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Part 2: In the Kitchen
...she brought her in the previous scene). When she leaves to take the soup upstairs, Cecilia enters. She and Paula have a somewhat tense conversation, as Cecilia notes that she has...
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Paula notes that Cecilia “abandoned” her and that she didn’t know how to move on. Her entire purpose in...
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Part 3
That evening, the women gather in the living room. Cecilia starts talking about the importance of community, which leads Julia to reflect on her “hallucinations.”...
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Once the water fight is over, Cecilia and Paula stay in the living room while the others go in the kitchen. Cecilia...
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Cecilia goes into the kitchen while Paula starts to go upstairs. Fefu appears at the top...
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...wash her face, clarifying on her way out that she respects all the other women. Cecilia follows, wraps her arms around Paula, and kisses her. Paula quickly steps back and looks...
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...is mainly worried about whether or not she told Fefu anything she wasn’t supposed to. Cecilia enters and asks what, exactly, Julia isn’t supposed to tell Fefu, but Julia just says,...
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A shot rings out. Christina and Cecilia run outside, but Julia quickly covers her forehead with her hand, which she then brings...
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