--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Drying herself with the hem of her shift…" description: "\"“Drying herself with the hem of her shift, she notes that her two candles are dimming; one of them is already a guttering stub. Will she light new ones..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/michel-faber-4084_night_drying-herself-with-the-hem-of-her-shift_2530670.jpg" --- # Drying herself with the hem of her shift, she notes that… ![“Drying herself with the hem of her shift, she notes that her two candles are dimming; one of them is already a guttering stub. Will she light new ones? Well, that depends on what time of night it is, and Caroline has no clock. Few people in Church Lane do. Few know what year it is, or even that…” quote by Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/michel-faber-4084_night_drying-herself-with-the-hem-of-her-shift_2530670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/michel-faber-4084_night_drying-herself-with-the-hem-of-her-shift_2530670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/michel-faber-4084_night_drying-herself-with-the-hem-of-her-shift_2530670.jpg) > ““Drying herself with the hem of her shift, she notes that her two candles are dimming; one of them is already a guttering stub. Will she light new ones? Well, that depends on what time of night it is, and Caroline has no clock. Few people in Church Lane do. Few know what year it is, or even that eighteen and a half centuries are supposed to have passed since a Jewish troublemaker was hauled away to the gallows for disturbing the peace. This is a street where people go to sleep not at a specific hour but when the gin takes effect, or when exhaustion will permit no further violence. This is a street where people wake when the opium in their babies’ sugar-water ceases to keep the little wretches under. This is a street where the weaker souls crawl into bed as soon as the sun sets and lie awake listening to the rats. This is a street reached only faintly, too faintly, by the bells of church and the trumpets of state.”” [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage paints a bleak, timeless street where people live without clear markers of time, relying on substances and darkness to dictate life and death. **In simple terms:** People live in a forgotten, drug‑bound world without time. Key Takeaway Recognize the loss of structure and seek meaning beyond routine. Themes despair addiction time societal neglect survival Mood somber reflective Type literary social commentary When to use this quote - urban poverty - nighttime routines - substance reliance - historical oblivion Key Concepts existentialism social decay human resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does the absence of time affect identity? - What can restore hope in such a setting? A Different Perspective The narrative may romanticize suffering, ignoring agency for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) ## Related quotes > [“When the sun begins to set, we do exactly as we did the night before. Caroline fusses over Dink. Jaxon ogles Harper. 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You don't have to turn out your light when you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-hillis/think-of-all-the-things-that-you-alone-don-t-have-to-do-you-don-t/) [Marjorie Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-hillis/) > [“Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, "Why me?", then a voice answers "Nothing personal, your name just happened to come up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/sometimes-i-lie-awake-at-night-and-i-ask-why-me-then-a-voice-answers/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-better-to-sleep-on-things-beforehand-than-lie-awake-about-them/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [“Sometimes I lie awake ay night, and I wonder, "is life like golf or is it more like baseball?" 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But I guess only God has all of them, while I only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-sometimes-lie-awake-at-night-wishing-i-had-all-the-answers-but-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“When I was a child, I often used to lie awake at night, in fearful anticipation of some unpleasant event the following day, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/when-i-was-a-child-i-often-used-to-lie-awake-at-night-in-fearful/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) ## More by Michel Faber > [One of the things my success as an author has forced me to face is how dysfunctional... Maybe that's a strong word, but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/one-of-the-things-my-success-as-an-author-has-forced-me-to-face-is/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/one-of-lucy-s-admirers-took-to-her-apparently-took-to-her-echoes/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [“Because I must do something while I still can. Each soul is still incalculably precious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/because-i-must-do-something-while-i-still-can-each-soul-is-still/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [“She sings on and on, while the house is discreetly dusted all around her and, in the concealed and subterranean kitchen, a naked duck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/she-sings-on-and-on-while-the-house-is-discreetly-dusted-all-around/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [My energies get used up quite quickly, and the psychic space I'm in when I write is a very lonely one, so I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/my-energies-get-used-up-quite-quickly-and-the-psychic-space-i-m-in/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [When we ask bureaucrats to identify who is responsible for fixing anything, they reassure us that there are 'procedures in place.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/when-we-ask-bureaucrats-to-identify-who-is-responsible-for-fixing/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [I'm a loner and always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/i-m-a-loner-and-always-have-been/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [I tend to process emotional stuff very, very slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/i-tend-to-process-emotional-stuff-very-very-slowly/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [“Yes, seven years old she was, when she finally plucked up the courage to ask her mother what Christmas was all about, and Mrs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/yes-seven-years-old-she-was-when-she-finally-plucked-up-the-courage/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [Watch your step. Keep your wits about you; you will need them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/watch-your-step-keep-your-wits-about-you-you-will-need-them/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [Of course I know that the twins are only words on a page, and I'm certainly not the sort of writer who talks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/of-course-i-know-that-the-twins-are-only-words-on-a-page-and-i-m/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [“Isn't Heaven reward enough, without needing to see the damned punished?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/isn-t-heaven-reward-enough-without-needing-to-see-the-damned-punished/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [“Sunlight is bad,' he wheezes. 'It's the exact same stuff as breeds maggots in wounded soldiers' legs. And when there's no war on, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/sunlight-is-bad-he-wheezes-it-s-the-exact-same-stuff-as-breeds/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [I'm still tremendously proud of 'Crimson Petal.' I'm still very emotionally involved with these characters. I still care about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/i-m-still-tremendously-proud-of-crimson-petal-i-m-still-very/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [A text may be superbly written, exquisitely subtle, deeply meaningful, but still seem like a luxury extra, something we add to the already well-stocked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/a-text-may-be-superbly-written-exquisitely-subtle-deeply-meaningful/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) [Explore all 106 Michel Faber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) ## More Night quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like working all hours of the night and having an unreliable working pattern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-don-t-like-working-all-hours-of-the-night-and-having-an-unreliable/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After nine nights must come ten and every desperate meeting only leaves you desperate for another. There is never enough to eat, never enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/after-nine-nights-must-come-ten-and-every-desperate-meeting-only/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“We drive west the rest of the night, away from where the sun will come up, trying to outrace it, trying not to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-drive-west-the-rest-of-the-night-away-from-where-the-sun-will-come/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) [Browse all 17,282 Night quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Drying herself with the hem of her shift, she notes that her two candles are dimming; one of them is already a guttering stub. Will she light new ones? Well, that depends on what time of night it is, and Caroline has no clock. Few people in Church Lane do. Few know what year it is, or even that eighteen and a half centuries are supposed to have passed since a Jewish troublemaker was hauled away to the gallows for disturbing the peace. This is a street where people go to sleep not at a specific hour but when the gin takes effect, or when exhaustion will permit no further violence. This is a street where people wake when the opium in their babies’ sugar-water ceases to keep the little wretches under. This is a street where the weaker souls crawl into bed as soon as the sun sets and lie awake listening to the rats. 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