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Be a good girl," she said. "I hope you'll be a good sister…

“Be a good girl," she said. "I hope you'll be a good sister to Laura. I know you try to be." I nodded. I didn't know what to say. I felt I was the victim of an injustice: why was it always me who was supposed to be a good sister to Laura, instead of the other way around? Surely my mother loved…” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““Be a good girl," she said. "I hope you'll be a good sister to Laura. I know you try to be." I nodded. I didn't know what to say. I felt I was the victim of an injustice: why was it always me who was supposed to be a good sister to Laura, instead of the other way around? Surely my mother loved Laura more than she loved me.””

Margaret Atwood

About This Quote

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

A girl feels pressured to be a good sister, questioning why she bears the burden while her mother seems to favor her sibling.

In simple terms: She feels unfairly burdened as a sister.

Key Takeaway

Address unequal family expectations.

Themes

family dynamics burden justice

Mood

empathetic conflicted

Type

psychological relational

When to use this quote

  • family counseling
  • personal boundaries
  • emotional health

Key Concepts

sibling relationships parental favoritism

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do you feel responsible?
  • How can you communicate your feelings?
A Different Perspective

Family roles can be deeply ingrained and hard to change.

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