Woman’s role in creation should be parallel to her role in…
““Woman’s role in creation should be parallel to her role in life. I don’t mean the good earth. I mean the bad earth too, the demon, the instincts, the storms of nature. Tragedies, conflicts, mysteries are personal. Man fabricated a detachment which became fatal. Woman must not fabricate. She must descend into the real womb and expose its secrets and its labyrinths. She must describe it as the city of Fez, with its Arabian Nights gentleness, tranquility and mystery. She must describe the voracious moods, the desires, the worlds contained in each cell of it. For the womb has dreams. It is not as simple as the good earth. I believe at times that man created art out of fear of exploring woman. I believe woman stuttered about herself out of fear of what she had to say. She covered herself with taboos and veils. Man invented a woman to suit his needs. He disposed of her by identifying her with nature and then paraded his contemptuous domination of nature. But woman is not nature only. She is the mermaid with her fish-tail dipped in the unconscious.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that women's creative and existential roles are deep, complex, and often suppressed by patriarchal narratives, urging women to embrace their full inner landscape, including darkness and mystery.
In simple terms: Women should explore and express all parts of their inner selves, not just the gentle aspects.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both light and shadow within.
Themes
gender
creativity
identity
power
mythology
Mood
reflective
defiant
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
feminist
When to use this quote
- personal writing
- artistic creation
- psychotherapy
- cultural critique
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
psychoanalysis
feminist theory
archetype
duality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can women reclaim the hidden parts of their psyche?
- What societal changes support authentic female expression?
A Different Perspective
Patriarchal structures may limit the full expression of women's inner worlds.