Come Women Quote by Raymond Chandler
““Out of the apartment houses come women who should be young but have faces like stale beer; men with pulled down hats and quick eyes that look the street over behind the cupped hand that shields the match flame; worn intellectuals with cigarette coughs and no money in the bank; fly cops with granite faces and unwavering eyes; cookies and coke peddlers; people who look like nothing in particular and know it, and once in a while even men that actually go to work. But they come out early, when the wide cracked sidewalks are empty and still have dew on them. (from) "The High Window””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The High Window by Raymond Chandler, 1942
The passage paints a vivid, gritty portrait of urban night life, highlighting diverse, weary characters navigating a bleak cityscape.
In simple terms: City night life with varied people.
Key Takeaway
Notice the humanity in every passerby.
Themes
urban life
diversity
loneliness
survival
observation
Mood
melancholic
observational
Type
descriptive
noir
When to use this quote
- late night walks
- street photography
- urban sociology
- crime scene investigation
- writing inspiration
Key Concepts
social realism
character sketch
noir
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this scene reveal about society’s margins?
- How might you see yourself in these characters?
A Different Perspective
The description may romanticize hardship, overlooking systemic issues.
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