It must be about six o’clock. My knees are tense. I…
““It must be about six o’clock. My knees are tense. I realise that what I used to refer to, to Mother Sugar, as “the housewife’s disease”has taken hold of me. The tension in me, so that peace has already gone away from me, is because the current has been switched on: I must-dress-Janet-get-her-breakfast-send-her-off-to-school-get-Michael’s-breakfast-don’t-forget-I’m-out-of-tea-etc.-etc. With this useless but apparently unavoidable tension resentment is also switched on. Resentment against what? An unfairness. That I should have to spend so much of my time worrying over details. The resentment focuses itself on Michael; although I know with my intelligence it has nothing to do with Michael. And yet I do resent him, because he will spend his day, served by secretaries, nurses, women in all kinds of capacities, who will take this weight off him. I try to relax myself, to switch off the current. But my limbs have started to ache, and I must turn over.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A mother feels overwhelmed by daily chores, leading to tension and resentment toward her partner’s easier workload.
In simple terms: She’s stressed by endless tasks and resents unfairness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address hidden resentment and fatigue.
Themes
family dynamics
gender roles
mental health
Mood
reflective
empathetic
concerned
Type
advice
psychology
When to use this quote
- parenting
- household management
- career balancing
- self‑care
Key Concepts
stress
resentment
role expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- What small changes could reduce daily tension?
- How can you communicate fatigue without blame?
A Different Perspective
May ignore the need for shared responsibility and self‑compassion.