“There are two tragedies” quote
The Trench“There are two tragedies” quote is an aphorism Benedict Singer attributes to Oscar Wilde while responding to Celeste Singer’s question about his melancholy. Its balanced opposition—being denied what one wants and getting it—makes desire itself the source of two different disappointments, turning a personal question into a compact, unresolved reflection on wanting and fulfillment.
Wording and Paradox
The line appears as part of Benedict’s reply: "As Oscar Wilde once said, 'In this world, there are two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.'" Its structure gives the two outcomes equal weight. Failure to obtain a desire is plainly painful; the reversal is that obtaining it can be tragic too. The aphorism offers no reason why fulfillment might disappoint, leaving the second half provocative rather than explanatory.
Use in the Scene
Celeste asks Benedict what is wrong after moving closer and remarking that he seems melancholy. He answers with the aphorism instead of naming the cause. The exchange then shifts into physical intimacy: Celeste rubs his inner thigh, and Benedict grabs her blond hair and tells her he missed her. In that context, the quote hangs between an unanswered emotional inquiry and an intimate reunion; the scene does not clarify whether Benedict’s melancholy concerns desire, fulfillment, or something else.
