Dies Quote by Catherynne M. Valente
“I have tried to write stories that go into the underworld of myth and bring out life and fire — where the old world looked at a woman alone and immortal and said: she must long to die, I have tried to say: look at her live!”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Invention of Ghosts by Catherynne M. Valente, 2018
The author challenges mythic expectations of women as doomed, urging a celebration of their vitality and agency.
In simple terms: Celebrate women’s life and agency.
Key Takeaway
Highlight and uplift female strength.
Themes
myth
gender
empowerment
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- gender studies
Key Concepts
feminist narrative
heroic agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you rewrite limiting narratives?
- What does “living” mean for marginalized voices?
A Different Perspective
Myths can be deeply entrenched, making change hard.
![“[From Old Mortality ] The woman in the picture. . . was only a ghost in a frame, and a sad, pretty story from old times.” quote by Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3a2/katherine-anne-porter-2653_death_from-old-mortality-the-woman-in-the-pict_1504796.jpg)
![“[About the main character approaching death in old age, observed by her husband . . .] He saw that she had already laid down a large portion of her life long ago. Piece by piece she had given it away as she wrestled with existence, as her self was absorbed as nourishment into his life and the life…” quote by Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f03/michael-d-o-brien-17161_death_about-the-main-character-approaching-dea_284602.jpg)
![“Her life has seen little light. She is twelve years old but has a woman’s weathered poise. Her abyss-blue eyes have a piercing focus that some adults find unsettling. [...] She has fired a gun into a human head. She has watched a pile of bodies set alight. She has starved and thirsted, stolen food…” quote by Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01a/isaac-marion-1033_dark_her-life-has-seen-little-light-she-is-tw_3131576.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
