Desk Quote by Caroline Lockhart
““Dr. Harpe, glancing through her window, read purpose in his stride as he came down the street. Her green eyes took on the gleam of battle and to doubly fortify herself she wrenched open her desk drawer and filled a whiskey glass to the brim. When she had drained it without removing it from her lips she drew her shirtwaist sleeve across her mouth to dry it, in a fashion peculiarly her own. Then she tilted her desk chair at a comfortable angle and her crossed legs displayed a stocking wrinkled in its usual mosquetaire effect. She was without her jacket but wore a man's starched piqué waistcoat over her white shirtwaist, and from one pocket there dangled a man's watch-fob of braided leather. She threw an arm over the chair-back and toyed with a pencil on her desk, waiting in this studied pose of nonchalance the arrival of Symes. The””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Harpe” (early 20th‑century fiction)
Dr. Harpe prepares for a confrontation, using whiskey and a composed pose, blending femininity with masculine symbols of power.
In simple terms: She read herself with whiskey and a confident stance.
Key Takeaway
Prepare mentally and symbolically for challenges.
Themes
preparation
gender
power
confidence
symbolism
Mood
tense
anticipatory
Type
literary
character study
When to use this quote
- office setting
- anticipation of conflict
- personal ritual
Key Concepts
psychological readiness
gender role reversal
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the whiskey represent?
- How does attire affect perceived authority?
A Different Perspective
The focus on external symbols may neglect internal motivations.
