Afternoon Quote by Philip Pullman
“On a cold, fretful afternoon in early October, 1872, a hansom cab drew up outside the offices of Lockhart and Selby, Shipping Agents, in the financial heart of London, and a young girl got out and paid the driver. She was a person of sixteen or so--alone, and uncommonly pretty. She was slender and pale, and dressed in mourning, with a black bonnet under which she tucked back a straying twist of blond hair that the wind had teased loose. She had unusually dark brown eyes for one so fair. Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within fifteen minutes, she was going to kill a man.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman, 1985
A young woman in Victorian London, driven by grief and determination, plans a murder, highlighting themes of agency and moral ambiguity.
In simple terms: A girl plans a murder in 19th‑century London.
Key Takeaway
Consider the motives behind extreme actions.
Themes
agency
morality
victorian society
revenge
feminism
Mood
tense
dark
reflective
Type
literary
drama
crime
When to use this quote
- investigative journalism
- historical fiction
- crime drama
- personal vendetta
Key Concepts
psychology
social class
justice
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives a person to such drastic measures?
- How does the setting influence her choices?
A Different Perspective
The plot may romanticize violence, overlooking its real consequences.
