In the scene where Felix first sees Robin unconscious, he is enchanted by her beauty — so much that the author, Djuna Barnes, describes his temptations towards Robin as being cannibalistic by asserting “we feel that we could eat her, she who is eaten death returning, for only then do we put our face close to the blood on the lips of our forefathers” (41). Felix is essentially objectifying Robin to something that is “eaten” and strips her from her individuality. In the next paragraph Barnes writes: “something of this emotion came over Felix, but being racially incapable of abandon, he felt that he was looking upon a figurehead in a museum.” This sentence brings up two important themes, one of sexuality and one of race. Not only is Felix objectifying Robin here as “a figurehead in a museum,” but he is described as being “racially incapable of abandon.” This passage is difficult for me to understand because I am confused as to why he would be racially incapable of abandon? While he is an orphan, does he feel racially segregated from society as Jew? I tried to make sense of this passage by looking at it as a whole rather than focusing on the race aspect of it. As a whole, the passage continues to emphasize on Felix’s sexual desire for Robin. I tried to connect this to his “racial incapability” which could be interpreted as him being unable to express himself towards her because he is somewhat of an outsider. 

– Sheik Floradewan