First time Quote by Philippa Gregory
““When he saw her, the water lapping on her scales, head down in the bath he had built especially for her, thinking that she would like to wash—not to revert to fish—he had that instant revulsion that some men feel when they understand, perhaps for the first time, that a woman is truly “other.” She is not a boy though she is weak like a boy, nor a fool though he has seen her tremble with feeling like a fool. She is not a villain in her capacity to hold a grudge, nor a saint in her flashes of generosity. She is not any of these male qualities. She is a woman. A thing quite different to a man. What he saw was a half fish, but what frightened him to his soul was the being which was a woman.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Other Woman, Philippa Gregory, 2005
A man perceives a woman as fundamentally alien, fearing her difference, which reveals deep gender anxieties and the struggle to recognize female identity beyond male constructs.
In simple terms: Men may see women as “other,” causing fear.
Key Takeaway
Recognize women as individuals, not as others.
Themes
gender
identity
otherness
fear
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
sociological
reflective
When to use this quote
- marriage
- sexual relationships
- family dynamics
- workplace interactions
Key Concepts
feminist theory
psychology
gender studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions make women seem “other”?
- How can we move beyond gender fear?
A Different Perspective
The view may oversimplify complex gender identities and ignore cultural variations.
