“Sometimes, I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that there's no room for the present at all”
Julia was in Brideshead with Charles and said these words at the moment when he was painting her. They were lovers at present, her divorce process started, her father was chained to bed and a feeling of death was hanging over the house. News from Europe became less and less cheerful, it was clear that the war was about to burst out. All these emotions overwhelmed her, and Julia was very apathetic. Present with all its uncertainties was a real burden for her.
“I should like to bury something precious in every place where I've been happy and then, when I'm old and ugly and miserable, I could come back and dig it up and remember”
Sebastian in his youth was a rather extraordinary person, a lot of people considered him an odd fellow, but for Charles he was a best friend. Even after their ways went different directions, Charles never forgot Sebastian. And Charles himself remembered these words of his friend, as the very idea was great – to make memories alive.
“If it could only be like this always – always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe and Aloysius in a good temper...”
In the very beginning of their friendship Charles has spent an entire summer in the Brideshead looking after his friend who had broken his leg and was chained to the chair. It was their best times together. Years afterwards, Charles remembered this summer as the best time ever, and it was that summer when Sebastian was the happiest in his life himself. Charles was not yet acquainted with Sebastian’s family, and simple enjoyed the summer, weather and happiness.
“...for in that city [New York] there is neurosis in the air which the inhabitants mistake for energy.”
With these words Charles proves that he prefers good old world with its tranquil atmosphere to crazy, new world with its furious tempo. Being in New York brings him little joy and he was glad to get on board of a ship and head to England.
