--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The servants were evil,” he said…" description: "\"“The servants were evil,” he said, recalling the tale the way the whiskey priest they sent to Creedmoor told it, sitting with Mr. Persichetti at the nu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/alice-mcdermott-1961_quote_the-servants-were-evil-he-said-recalling_1706067.jpg" --- # The servants were evil,” he said, recalling the tale the… ![“The servants were evil,” he said, recalling the tale the way the whiskey priest they sent to Creedmoor told it, sitting with Mr. Persichetti at the nurses’ station late into the night, those watery blue eyes forever bloodshot and sleepless. “They told the crazy chieftain that he should marry his…” quote by Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/alice-mcdermott-1961_quote_the-servants-were-evil-he-said-recalling_1706067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/alice-mcdermott-1961_quote_the-servants-were-evil-he-said-recalling_1706067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/alice-mcdermott-1961_quote_the-servants-were-evil-he-said-recalling_1706067.jpg) > ““The servants were evil,” he said, recalling the tale the way the whiskey priest they sent to Creedmoor told it, sitting with Mr. Persichetti at the nurses’ station late into the night, those watery blue eyes forever bloodshot and sleepless. “They told the crazy chieftain that he should marry his beautiful daughter instead. Which he tried to do.” (“If you get my meaning,” the priest had said.) “But Dymphna ran off to Belgium.” He saw her grimace and purse her lips, her face seemed to swell with color. “Her crazy father followed her,” he said, tightening his own grip on her hand. “I guess he cut off her head.”” [Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mcdermott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A haunting tale of a priest recounting violent, tragic events involving a family, highlighting fear, madness, and loss. **In simple terms:** A priest tells a dark story of family tragedy and madness. Key Takeaway Listen to warning signs of violence. Themes family violence madness Mood somber intense Type literary dramatic When to use this quote - counseling - mental health awareness - historical research - literary analysis Key Concepts trauma psychological horror Questions to Reflect On - What drives the priest’s obsession? - How does madness affect family dynamics? A Different Perspective The narrative may romanticize suffering, obscuring real causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [ Look at the reputation they gave him. \[Giordano\] Bruno without the pyre is a whiskey priest laying waste to the maids of Umbria. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/look-at-the-reputation-they-gave-him-giordano-bruno-without-the-pyre/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Im crazy about my father, hes an amazing man, a real adventurer. He took us with him to travel all over the world. 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