Gaze Quote by Michel Faber
““One of Lucy's admirers took to her, apparently." "Took to her?" echoes William, his own feelings for Sugar causing him to construe the phrase benignly. "Yes," said Bodley "With her own riding crop." "Beat her very severely." "Particularly about the face and mouth." "I understand all the fight's gone out of her now." "Well, as you can imagine," he says. "Madam Georgina doesn't have high hopes. Even if she's willing to wait, there will be scars." Ashwell, eyes downcast, is picking at the lint on his trousers. "Poor girl," he laments. "Yes," smirks Bodley. "How are the fighty maulen.””
About This Quote
A dark, ironic commentary on power dynamics, sexual violence, and the lingering trauma inflicted on a vulnerable individual, framed through a grotesque dialogue.
In simple terms: Power, trauma, cruelty, irony, gender, victimization
Key Takeaway
Violence leaves lasting scars
Themes
Power dynamics
Sexual violence
Trauma
Gender oppression
Irony
Mood
grim
cynical
somber
Type
dialogue
narrative excerpt
social commentary
When to use this quote
- A courtroom testimony
- A literary analysis class
- A therapy session
- A feminist critique
- A historical study of gendered violence
Key Concepts
Abuse of authority
Psychological manipulation
Social hierarchy
Victim-blaming
Practical Applications
- Developing trauma-informed policies
- Creating educational curricula on consent
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape our perception of victims?
- What responsibilities do storytellers have when portraying trauma?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue the passage is purely fictional satire, but its vivid depiction of abuse underscores real societal harms.
