There is one thing above all others that I despise. It is fingers, especially female fingers, messing around in my guts. My guts, like Victorian marriage, are private.
In Wallace Stegner's novel "Angle of Repose," the narrator expresses a strong aversion to physical intrusion, particularly from female hands. This revulsion emphasizes a sense of discomfort regarding vulnerability and personal boundaries, paralleling the constraints of Victorian marriage.
The comparison of his "guts" to the nature of private relationships highlights the inner turmoil that comes with exposing oneself to others. It reflects a broader theme of the struggle between intimacy and the desire for autonomy, underscoring how personal and societal norms shape individual experiences.
