North and south Quote by Jennifer Worth
““I sells ladies fings, and vis nun, she comes up to me stall an’ afore you can blink an eye, she picks up a couple of bread an’ cheeses, tucks ’em in ’er petticoats, an’ is off round the Jack Horner, dahn ve frog an’ toad, quick as shit off a stick. I couldn’t Adam an’ Eve it, bu’ vats wot she done. When I tells me carvin’ knife wot I seen, she calls me an ’oly friar, an’ says she’ll land me one on me north and south if I calls Sister Monica Joan a tea-leaf. Very fond of Sister, she is. So I never says nuffink to no one, like.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Call the Midwife, 2002
A vendor describes a swift, cunning woman who steals food and teases him, illustrating how cleverness can outwit authority.
In simple terms: A clever thief outsmarts a vendor.
Key Takeaway
Watch for cunning behavior.
Themes
deception
power dynamics
survival
Mood
wry
observational
Type
anecdotal
humorous
When to use this quote
- market stalls
- street vendors
- poverty
- gender roles
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
manipulation
resource scarcity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the woman's behavior reveal about societal constraints?
- How does humor mask exploitation?
A Different Perspective
The story may exaggerate for humor, reducing its seriousness.
