"Pornography is rather like trying to find out about a Beethoven symphony by having somebody tell you about it and perhaps hum a few bars"

The quote by Robertson Davies draws an analogy between the experience of engaging with a Beethoven symphony and consuming pornography. His comparison suggests a disparity between a complex, genuine experience and a pre-owned, shallow one. Let's break down the aspects of this analogy to analyze its deeper meaning.

To start with, consider the experience of a Beethoven symphony, an example of high art understood for its psychological depth, detailed structure, and profound expression. A symphony is a multi-layered composition that needs full engagement to appreciate its nuances. Listening to it in its totality immerses the audience in an abundant auditory landscape, evoking feelings and contemplative thoughts. Experiencing a symphony is vibrant; it develops with each motion, challenging the listener to remain mindful and open up to its progressing themes.

Contrast this with the idea of someone merely informing you about a Beethoven symphony or humming a couple of bars. This form of engagement is significantly shallow and incomplete. It does not have the immersive and transformative experience of the actual symphony, providing just a quick, oversimplified glimpse. This belongs to a one-dimensional summary of something naturally complex and complex.

Davies utilizes this example to talk about pornography. Just as merely hearing about a symphony or listening to a couple of hummed bars can not convey the complete essence of Beethoven's work, engaging with porn supplies a narrow and reduced understanding of human intimacy and sexuality. It offers a quick, frequently distorted representation that misses the elegance, psychological connection, and authentic human experience that can accompany real-life intimacy.

In essence, Davies highlights the constraints of pornography in supplying a deep understanding of human sexuality and connection. He recommends that, like the superficial engagement with a symphony, it stops working to record the complete spectrum of human experience, offering instead a pale imitation that does not have depth, substance, and credibility.