--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If he had been a woman he must have…" description: "\"“If he had been a woman he must have screamed under the nervous tension which he was now undergoing. But that relief being denied to his virility, he c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/thomas-hardy-410_quote_if-he-had-been-a-woman-he-must-have-scre_1810781.jpg" --- # If he had been a woman he must have screamed under the… ![“If he had been a woman he must have screamed under the nervous tension which he was now undergoing. But that relief being denied to his virility, he clenched his teeth in misery, bringing lines about his mouth like those in the Laocoön, and corrugations between his brows.” quote by Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/thomas-hardy-410_quote_if-he-had-been-a-woman-he-must-have-scre_1810781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/thomas-hardy-410_quote_if-he-had-been-a-woman-he-must-have-scre_1810781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/thomas-hardy-410_quote_if-he-had-been-a-woman-he-must-have-scre_1810781.jpg) > ““If he had been a woman he must have screamed under the nervous tension which he was now undergoing. But that relief being denied to his virility, he clenched his teeth in misery, bringing lines about his mouth like those in the Laocoön, and corrugations between his brows.”” [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A male character feels intense, suppressed anguish, likened to mythic suffering, revealing gendered expectations of emotional expression. **In simple terms:** He feels trapped misery, like a mythic statue. Key Takeaway Recognize how societal expectations shape emotional expression. Themes gender emotional repression mythic imagery masculinity Mood melancholic intense reflective Type literary psychological critical When to use this quote - personal crisis - social pressure - mental health - masculine norms Key Concepts psychology literary symbolism gender studies Questions to Reflect On - What pressures prevent men from expressing vulnerability? - How does mythic imagery intensify personal suffering? A Different Perspective May overlook the character’s agency or alternative coping mechanisms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“The excitement I had been feeling before we left slowly drained in the long van ride, leaving a nervous tension that seemed to wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/the-excitement-i-had-been-feeling-before-we-left-slowly-drained-in/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [Be very careful that you do not unconsciously assume that nervous tension is power. This is vital. Watch yourself the next time you work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/be-very-careful-that-you-do-not-unconsciously-assume-that-nervous/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [... While nervous tension may be a component of stress, one can be stressed without feeling tension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/while-nervous-tension-may-be-a-component-of-stress-one-can-be/) [Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“He saw with pleasure he’d been wrong. The nervous tension and vulnerability she radiated were real, but so too was the core of strength…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-laroche/he-saw-with-pleasure-he-d-been-wrong-the-nervous-tension-and/) [Catherine LaRoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-laroche/) > [I've become more relaxed. When I was younger, I had more erratic, nervous tension when I was working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/i-ve-become-more-relaxed-when-i-was-younger-i-had-more-erratic/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [“Before a battle or a landing, you get a little nervous tension. Once the shooting starts it goes away. 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Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Just before you went into the ICU, I started to feel this ache in my hip.” “No,” I said. Panic rolled in, pulled me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/just-before-you-went-into-the-icu-i-started-to-feel-this-ache-in-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) ## More by Thomas Hardy > [“He grew away from old associations, and saw something new in life and humanity. 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And again the Spirit of Pity whispered, 'Why?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-sinister-spirit-sneered-it-had-to-be-and-again-the-spirit-of-pity/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Aeschylean phrase) had ended his sport with Tess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/justice-was-done-and-the-president-of-the-immortals-in-aeschylean/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) [Explore all 561 Thomas Hardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## More Clenched Teeth quotes > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. 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Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“This guy barged in here and started yelling at me!” “I’m not—” James clenched his teeth behind a fake, faltering smile. “I’m not yelling,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-smith/this-guy-barged-in-here-and-started-yelling-at-me-i-m-not-james/) Jake Smith > [“He whirled her against the refrigerator, his hands hard on her waist. Startled, she dropped her purse and keys to the floor and looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/he-whirled-her-against-the-refrigerator-his-hands-hard-on-her-waist/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [“What are you doing, meditating?" "No, I'm trying to calm down so I don't kick your ass," she said through clenched teeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-kade/what-are-you-doing-meditating-no-i-m-trying-to-calm-down-so-i-don-t/) [Stacey Kade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-kade/) > [“I clenched my teeth and tried desperately to get air to my starved brain. If this annoying red head didn’t go away I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/i-clenched-my-teeth-and-tried-desperately-to-get-air-to-my-starved/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [I'll tell you what's wrong!" he roared, "I'm trying to quit smoking!" Then he strode angrily to the truck, leaving her standing there. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-wrong-he-roared-i-m-trying-to-quit-smoking-then/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [“desperate gasp of air through clenched teeth as Andrew tried not to get sick in front of the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-sakavic/desperate-gasp-of-air-through-clenched-teeth-as-andrew-tried-not-to/) [Nora Sakavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-sakavic/) > [“Mom hopped up to turn off the burner, but it subsided before she got there. 'If this--whatever it is--starts playing with fire,' she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hodgman/mom-hopped-up-to-turn-off-the-burner-but-it-subsided-before-she-got/) Ann Hodgman > [Did Lovelace's forces find you? Did Jabor break in?" He spoke slowly through clenched teeth. 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