Awake Quote by George MacDonald
“What a good thing, for instance, it was that one princess should sleep for a hundred years! Was she not saved from all the plague of young men who were not worthy of her? And did not she come awake exactly at the right moment when the right prince kissed her? For my part, I cannot help wishing a good many girls would sleep till just the same fate overtook them. It would be happier for them, and more agreeable to their friends.”
About This Quote
A satirical lament that wishes women could escape the burdens of love and societal expectations by remaining in a passive, enchanted sleep.
In simple terms: Critique of romantic idealism
Key Takeaway
Sleep as escape from oppressive gender roles
Themes
gender roles
romantic idealism
satire
societal expectations
agency
feminist critique
Mood
wry
cynical
reflective
Type
satirical
philosophical
cultural critique
When to use this quote
- a woman avoiding marriage pressure
- a girl rejecting suitors
- a society idealizing virginity
Key Concepts
passivity
rescue narrative
fairy‑tale tropes
Practical Applications
- parody of fairy‑tale endings
- commentary on gender norms
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the wish for perpetual sleep reveal about the author's view of love?
- How might this satire challenge traditional fairy‑tale narratives?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may trivialize real struggles women face, reducing complex oppression to a whimsical wish.
![“I wish I had [made that song]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all that.' 'What makes it yours?' 'I love it so.' 'Does loving a thing make it yours?' 'I think so, Mother -- at least more than anything else can. . . . Love makes the only myness,' said…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/722/george-macdonald-295_love_i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-t_35103.jpg)
