A Mouthful
Ian Fleming oft describes James Bond as having a ‘cruel mouth.’ His visage is limned as having a thin, vertical scar down one cheek; blue eyes; dark hair that covers one brow with a comma-like curl; and a thin, cruel mouth. Many of Fleming’s female characters find Bond handsome if not for that cruel mouth (or, occasionally, those 'ruthless eyes'). Though, I am certain his mildly savage countenance adds to his appeal among the female species whether conscious or not.
I have myself seen a variety of buccal modes: ironic grins, grim smiles, sarcastic smirks and even sardonic simpers. Yet somehow using ‘cruel’ to describe a mouth is so unique to me; the concept engages and intrigues (a frequent effect upon me by Fleming’s top-notch writing). What is most stirring about the description is that it describes the organ itself and not its expression.
My question is, what exactly is a cruel mouth and what does it look like?
Can we think of any examples?
