Ethel Said Quote by Ken Follett
““Mam kissed Ethel and said: “I'm glad to see you settled at last, anyway,” That word ANYWAY carried a lot of baggage, Ethel thought. It meant: “Congratulations, even though you're a fallen woman, and you've got an illegitmate child whose father no one knows, and you're marrying a Jew, and living in London, which is the same as Sodom and Gomorrah.” But Ethel accepted Mam's qualified blessing and vowed never to say such things to her own child.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Pillars of the Earth, 1989
A seemingly casual blessing carries deep social judgments, revealing how language can embed prejudice and affect personal identity.
In simple terms: Words can hide bias and shape identity.
Key Takeaway
Be aware of hidden meanings in speech.
Themes
social class
prejudice
identity
language
family
Mood
reflective
empathetic
critical
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- Family discussions
- counseling
- cultural workshops
- writing
- teaching
Key Concepts
Sociology
Literature
Gender Studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How do everyday phrases reflect societal bias?
- What can we do to challenge hidden prejudices?
A Different Perspective
Overlooking subtle bias can perpetuate discrimination.
