Centuries Quote by Margaret Atwood
““I would pore for hours over the stalls of worn necklaces, sets of gilt spoons, sugar tongs in the shape of hen's feet or midget hands, clocks that didn't work, flowered china, spotty mirrors and ponderous furniture, the flotsam left by those receding centuries in which, more and more, I was living.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood, 1985
Collecting remnants of past eras reveals how history accumulates in everyday objects, shaping identity.
In simple terms: Collecting old things shows history’s presence.
Key Takeaway
Explore the stories objects hold.
Themes
history
material culture
identity
Mood
nostalgic
curious
Type
literary
observational
When to use this quote
- home décor
- museum curation
- personal memory
Key Concepts
archaeology
consumerism
Questions to Reflect On
- What do these objects say about us?
- How does material nostalgia influence identity?
A Different Perspective
Obsession with objects can distract from present experiences.
