Blame Quote by Margaret Atwood
“There were no men in this painting, but it was about men, the kind who caused women to fall. I did not ascribe any intentions to these men. They were like the weather, they didn't have a mind. They merely drenched you or struck you like lightning and moved on, mindless as blizzards. Or they were like rocks, a line of sharp slippery rocks with jagged edges. You could walk with care along between the rocks, picking your steps, and if you slipped you'd fall and cut yourself, but it was no use blaming the rocks.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Handmaid’s Tale, 1985
The passage uses natural metaphors to describe men as impersonal forces that cause harm, emphasizing the futility of blaming them directly.
In simple terms: Men are likened to weather or rocks—dangerous but indifferent.
Key Takeaway
Focus on navigating hazards rather than assigning intent.
Themes
gender
power
violence
metaphor
responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
critical
empathetic
Type
literary
feminist
When to use this quote
- feminist analysis
- social commentary
- personal safety
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
patriarchy
objectification
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does metaphor shape our view of gendered power?
- Can we address harm without attributing intent?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex human agency and responsibility.
