Apartment Quote by Alice McDermott
““It was already there,” he said. “Someone left it behind. They didn’t want it. The super said they couldn’t even rent the apartment for a few weeks because it takes up the whole bedroom and nobody wanted to pay to take it out. Can you believe it? A Steinway.” “Lucky that you play,” she said. She””
About This Quote
Source Short Story, “The Apartment,” 1995
A neglected Steinway piano becomes a symbol of missed opportunities and the absurdity of bureaucratic rules.
In simple terms: Small objects can reveal larger social absurdities.
Key Takeaway
Question unnecessary rules that waste resources.
Themes
absurdity
bureaucracy
neglected art
urban life
Mood
ironic
contemplative
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- apartment rentals
- city housing policies
- personal anecdotes
Key Concepts
symbolism
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What everyday objects expose hidden inefficiencies?
- How do we balance regulation with practicality?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on trivialities may overlook deeper systemic issues.
![“My father would never have come to visit, he detested Eva's [Braun] choice in a man and the fact [Adolf] Hitler had set her up in an apartment. To him it was deeply humiliating that she was living with a man at his own whim at an apartment he was paying for.” quote by Gretl Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2a7/gretl-braun-9500_apartment_my-father-would-never-have-come-to-visit_40016.jpg)
