# I explained — The Cords of Vanity

> Chapter companion for The Cords of Vanity by James Branch Cabell.

## What happens

The narrator reflects on first knowing Stella Musgrave when she was nearly fifteen, an awkward age, and contrasts her youthful clumsiness with the legendary beauty she would later become. He also describes his own youthful vanity and evolving attitudes toward girls.

## Themes in this chapter

### Vanity and Self-Deception

The narrator's private encouragement of his moustache and his self-conscious concealment of opinions about girls reflect youthful vanity.

### Romantic Idealism vs. Reality

The contrast between Stella's awkward fifteen-year-old self and the legendary beauties of history highlights the gap between romantic ideal and mundane reality.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator, nine days younger than Stella, recalls his own youthful vanity and changing views on girls.

### Stella Musgrave

Stella is introduced as an awkward fifteen-year-old, with nervous laughter and fidgety habits.

### Rosalind Jemmett

Mentioned as a famous fair one, compared to Stella and Helen of Troy.

## Key lines

> When I first knew Stella she was within a month of being fifteen, which is for womankind an unattractive age.

The narrator first met Stella when she was almost fifteen, an age he considers unappealing for women.

_Establishes the initial meeting and the narrator's critical view of adolescence._

> I cherished the most optimistic ideas as to my impendent moustache, and was wont in privacy to encourage it with the manicure-scissors.

The narrator had hopeful thoughts about his coming moustache and would secretly try to stimulate its growth with scissors.

_Illustrates the narrator's vanity and self-deception._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters