Fanciful Quote by Thomas Hardy
““But you shouldn't have let her. That's the only way with these fanciful women that chaw high--innocent or guilty. She'd have come round in time. We all do! Custom does it! It's all the same in the end! However, I think she's fond of her man still--whatever he med be of her. You were too quick about her. I shouldn't have let her go! I should have kept her chained on-- her spirit for kicking would have been broke soon enough! There's nothing like bondage and a stone-deaf taskmaster for taming us women. Besides, you've got the laws on your side. Moses knew.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Tess of the d'Urbervilles, 1891
The speaker believes that controlling a woman through restraint and societal expectations will eventually tame her, reflecting patriarchal and fatalistic attitudes.
In simple terms: Control through restraint will tame women, according to the speaker.
Key Takeaway
Avoid imposing control; respect autonomy.
Themes
control
gender
society
power
tradition
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- marriage
- family dynamics
- legal systems
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
patriarchal norms
fatalism
social conditioning
Questions to Reflect On
- Is control ever justified?
- What are the costs of imposing strict norms?
A Different Perspective
Such coercion can cause lasting harm and resistance, not true compliance.
