Fefu and Her Friends

by

María Irene Fornés

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Paula Character Analysis

Paula is another one of Fefu’s friends. It isn’t long after she arrives at Fefu’s house to plan the fundraiser that she finds herself in a serious conversation with Cecilia, with whom she used to have a romantic relationship. The two women haven’t spoken much since the dissolution of their affair, and Paula wants to express how sad this makes her—being with Cecilia gave her a certain sense of meaning and purpose in her life. Without Cecilia, though, Paula feels rudderless and lost. But Paula is also eager to tell Cecilia that she’s not trying to win her back. Rather, she just needs to express how much she misses her.

Paula Quotes in Fefu and Her Friends

The Fefu and Her Friends quotes below are all either spoken by Paula or refer to Paula. 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:
Abstract Representation and Interpretation Theme Icon
).
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.

Related Characters: Paula (speaker), Cecilia
Page Number: 39-40
Explanation and Analysis:
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Paula Quotes in Fefu and Her Friends

The Fefu and Her Friends quotes below are all either spoken by Paula or refer to Paula. 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:
Abstract Representation and Interpretation Theme Icon
).
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.

Related Characters: Paula (speaker), Cecilia
Page Number: 39-40
Explanation and Analysis: