Family Quote by Edith Wharton
““It would presently be his task to take the bandage from this young woman's eyes, and bid her look forth upon the world. But how many generations of the women of had gone to her making had descended bandaged to the family vault? He shivered a little, remembering some of the new ideas in his scientific books, and the much-cited instance of the Kentucky cave-fish, which had ceased to develop eyes because they had no use for them. What if, when he had bidden May Welland to open hers, they could only look out blankly at blankness?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The House of Mirth, 1905
The passage reflects on how generations of women have been kept in ignorance, likening them to blind cave fish that lost sight due to disuse, and questions the emptiness of a life without vision.
In simple terms: Women are trapped in inherited blindness, unable to see beyond tradition.
Key Takeaway
Challenge inherited constraints and seek true insight.
Themes
inheritance
blindness
tradition
knowledge
generational trauma
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family expectations
- education reform
- women’s empowerment
- cultural critique
Key Concepts
Patriarchy
Epistemology
Evolutionary biology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural narratives keep us blind?
- What steps can break cycles of ignorance?
A Different Perspective
Blindness can be self‑imposed, not merely inherited.
