I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking

I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking

Jean Cocteau, the renowned French artist, poet, and filmmaker, was known for his avant-garde approach to art and his deep exploration of the human psyche. Throughout his career, Cocteau delved into themes of duality, transformation, and the supernatural, often blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. One of his most famous quotes, "I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking," perfectly encapsulates his complex relationship with his own inner self.

Cocteau's statement suggests a profound sense of inner conflict and struggle. The idea of an angel residing within him implies a higher, more spiritual aspect of his being, a source of purity and goodness. However, the fact that he is constantly shocking this angel suggests a constant state of rebellion or defiance against his own innate nature. This internal tension between light and darkness, good and evil, is a recurring theme in Cocteau's work.

Throughout his life, Cocteau grappled with his own demons, including addiction, depression, and self-destructive tendencies. His art often reflected these struggles, with themes of death, decay, and transformation prevalent in many of his works. Cocteau's fascination with the supernatural and the occult further underscores his belief in the existence of unseen forces at play within the human soul.