Love and Let Die Quotes

“Here then is an idealised fantasy of how modern men could be. They are not motivated by greed or by a sense of purpose, they are sexually adventurous but not predators, they see themselves as valid rather than victims, confident enough to be true to themselves, brave enough not to hide themselves away. They know when they can relax and enjoy life and when they need to harden, stand firm, protect themselves and others. In a very meta modern way they are skilled at knowing when they should swing to these extremes. If the Beatles are an expression of yes and the Bond is a statement of no, they are an ability to choose the right response at any given moment. The fantasy of being Bond has always been a desire to be confident, skilled and brave. To make it modern it also has to be wise, there is no reason why you can’t be emotionally intelligent behind the wheel of a really fast sports car. Or to put it another way they need an ambition and mastery of Paul, the bravery and honesty of John, the sense of higher purpose and great cause of George and an ability to enjoy life of Ringo.”
― John Higgs, Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles, and the British Psyche

“When Bond was born he personified an aspect of male identity that was prevalent after the war that of the protector. Man saw their role as being the one to protect their families from external threats. An ability to resort to violence when necessary was part of this. Meaning that emotionally men had to harden and reduce their empathy. The role of protector is an aspect of male identity that is now less necessary. The great majority of men go through their lives without ever having to fight and those who use violence against others are no longer admired or tolerated. It is the lack of love, particularly in childhood, that can lead to the toxic behaviour and violence that we need to protect ourselves against. Craig’s Bond gradually learned that his armour hurt and isolated him as much as it protected. He came at the end of five film arc to open himself up, leave himself vulnerable and accept the consequences. This was necessary he finally understood, even though it will lead to his death.”
― John Higgs, Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles, and the British Psyche

“An important factor here is that Bond does not see himself as a victim. This feels like it should be an increasingly important aspect of the character given the extent which society consistently urges us to define ourselves in this way. This is an issue not necessarily linked to how life has treated us. […] To not be a victim does not mean that you become an oppressor. It means that you are able to accept responsibility for your actions and circumstances and are prepared to withstand pressure when necessary. It means that you are willing to stand up and use your voice even at times when to do so is futile or against your own self interest. It is to not give in to fear, to act when necessary and to not be coward by the realities of the world. This is especially appealing in an era when so many suffer from anxiety. These are usually portrayed as idealised masculine qualities but they are more universal than that. [If you] don’t act like a victim, in the modern world it can be enough to mark you out as a hero.”
― John Higgs, Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles, and the British Psyche

“His voice was proof that no matter how lost you may be you are never alone because there are people like John Lennon who could reach you.”
― John Higgs, Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles, and the British Psyche

“In the midst of communal screaming there is only the present moment. The past and the future dissolve the way, nothing more than illusions. When the past disappears it takes with it the possibility of regret or shame, when the future vanishes, gone are any feelings of worry, stress or our capability to experience fear.”
― John Higgs, Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles, and the British Psyche