American woman Quote by Gene Wolfe
““We went into a small, windowless office crowded between two others that appeared empty. A middle-aged American woman was seated behind a metal desk. She appeared normal and reasonably attractive until she spoke; then her scarred gums showed that she had once had two or three times the proper number of teeth—forty or fifty, I suppose, in each jaw—and that the dental surgeon who had extracted the supernumerary ones had not always, perhaps, selected those he suffered to remain as wisely as he might.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Book of the New Sun, The Shadow of the Torturer, 1980
A vivid description of a surreal, cramped office and a woman whose dental abnormalities hint at deeper, unsettling themes.
In simple terms: A strange office and a woman with odd teeth reveal hidden oddness.
Key Takeaway
Notice how physical details can suggest larger mysteries.
Themes
surrealism
body
humanity
perception
mystery
Mood
uneasy
intrigued
thoughtful
Type
descriptive
atmospheric
literary
When to use this quote
- office setting
- character introduction
- building atmosphere
- setting tone
Key Concepts
abnormal anatomy
psychological tension
world‑building
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the woman's dental condition symbolize?
- How does the setting affect your sense of unease?
A Different Perspective
The focus on teeth may distract from broader narrative themes.
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