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… for it is the fate of a woman Long to be patient and…

“… for it is the fate of a woman Long to be patient and silent, to wait like a ghost that is speechless, Till some questioning voice dissolves the spell of its silence. Hence is the inner life of so many suffering women Sunless and silent and deep, like subterranean rivers Running through caverns…” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““… for it is the fate of a woman Long to be patient and silent, to wait like a ghost that is speechless, Till some questioning voice dissolves the spell of its silence. Hence is the inner life of so many suffering women Sunless and silent and deep, like subterranean rivers Running through caverns of darkness.… —HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW, “The Courtship of Miles Standish,” 1858.””

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.

Women often endure silent suffering, awaiting a voice to break their oppression.

In simple terms: Silent women await liberation.

Key Takeaway

Amplify unheard voices.

Themes

gender silence patience

Mood

somber hopeful

Type

poetic advocacy

When to use this quote

  • activism
  • literature
  • mental health

Key Concepts

feminist theory psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What empowers the voiceless?
A Different Perspective

Silence can be self‑imposed.

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