Skip to content

His wife was a tall, stringy woman, perhaps five years…

“His wife was a tall, stringy woman, perhaps five years older than her husband—say, forty—with a mouth and chin that seemed shaped for gossiping.” quote by Dashiell Hammett
Download Open image
““His wife was a tall, stringy woman, perhaps five years older than her husband—say, forty—with a mouth and chin that seemed shaped for gossiping.””

Dashiell Hammett

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A wife described as tall, stringy, older, with a gossip‑prone mouth and chin.

In simple terms: Physical description hints at personality.

Key Takeaway

Notice character details.

Themes

characterization appearance age

Mood

observational critical

Type

literary analytical

When to use this quote

  • novel writing
  • character study
  • dialogue crafting

Key Concepts

literary analysis social perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does description shape perception?
  • What biases arise from physical traits?
A Different Perspective

Stereotypes may oversimplify.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Dashiell Hammett

Explore all 119 Dashiell Hammett quotes

More Five years quotes

Browse all 2,724 Five years quotes