Boat Quote by Jane Swisshelm
“If I wrote at all, I must throw myself headlong into the great political maelstrom, and would of course be swallowed up like a fishing-boat in the great Norway horror which decorated our school geographies; for no woman had ever done such a thing, and I could never again hold up my head under the burden of shame and disgrace which would be heaped upon me. But what matter? I had no children to dishonor; all save one who had ever loved me were dead, and she no longer needed me, and if the Lord wanted some one to throw into that gulf, no one could be better spared than I.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great Norway Horror, unknown author, 19th century
She feels compelled to sacrifice herself to avoid shame, seeing death as a release from societal judgment.
In simple terms: She chooses death over disgrace.
Key Takeaway
Consider the cost of societal expectations.
Themes
sacrifice
shame
gender
societal pressure
Mood
despair
resigned
tragic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- social ostracism
- mental health
- family loss
Key Concepts
existentialism
feminist critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives could she have pursued?
- How does society shape personal sacrifice?
A Different Perspective
Her decision ignores possible alternatives like seeking support.
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