The face that launched a thousand ships

[Coenraedt]

Dear forum visitors,

In a play, a man who has been wounded and has lost his eye-sight in an car-accident says: No more for me "the face who launched a thousand ships", eh?
I know this is a reference to Helen of Troy, whose beauty is supposed to have triggered the Trojan Wars, but what could this person mean by saying this in his situation? Something like: I'm no longer attractive, I will no longer be able to undertake anything important?
Thank you.
Coenraedt

[Anglika]

I think he is saying that now he will no longer be able to appreciate facial beauty since he no longer can see it.

[RonBee]

No more will he be able to lay his eyes on a beautiful woman.

~R

[Coenraedt]

Thank you Anglika and RonBee. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you very much!
Regards,
Coenraedt

[RonBee]

You're quite welcome.

[intrepid]

Have you considered that he may feel no longer attractive to beautiful women? This is my immediate analysis, as I am a woman.

[hemantg]

I request all of you to give a simple sentence where the expression 'the face who launched a thousand ships' is used, as I am having certain misgivings as to where it can be used??
Thx in advance..!!

[BobK]

Originally Posted by hemantg

I request all of you to give a simple sentence where the expression 'the face who launched a thousand ships' is used, as I am having certain misgivings as to where it can be used??
Thx in advance..!!

She had a face that launched a thousand ships. This applied to Helen of Troy. I don't think I've ever heard it used colloquially or idiomatically (to mean something like 'fatally attractive, in a way that had far-reaching consequences') - except as a direct reference to Helen, which is why I think the original post referred to the loss of sight rather than the loss of attractiveness.

b

[Mordant]

I remember a tabloid newpaper cruelly referring to Fergie (Duchess of York) as 'the face that shipped a thousand lunches' after she had put on a bit of weight.

[zskyhawk]

As an aside, I can say I know of another face that launched six thousand ships. Adolf Hitler's on the 'D' Day landings. Sorry about the blatant digression but could'nt resist.