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For it is not always the one that strikes the blow that is…

“For it is not always the one that strikes the blow that is the actual murderer; and Mary was done to death by that unknown gentleman, as surely as if he'd taken the knife and plunged it into her body himself.” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““For it is not always the one that strikes the blow that is the actual murderer; and Mary was done to death by that unknown gentleman, as surely as if he'd taken the knife and plunged it into her body himself.””

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.

Violence can be indirect; responsibility may lie with unseen forces rather than the visible perpetrator.

In simple terms: Hidden actors can cause harm.

Key Takeaway

Recognize indirect causes of harm.

Themes

responsibility violence justice

Mood

somber reflective

Type

ethical literary

When to use this quote

  • legal trials
  • family abuse
  • corporate negligence
  • media reporting

Key Concepts

ethics agency causality

Questions to Reflect On

  • Who is truly accountable when harm is mediated?
  • How does indirect violence affect justice?
A Different Perspective

Attribution can be legally complex and morally ambiguous.

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