Quote by Virginia Woolf
Here she tossed her foot impatiently, and showed an inch or two of calf. A sailor on the mast, who happened to look down at the moment, started so violently that he missed his footing and only saved himself by the skin of his teeth. 'If the sight of my ankles means death to an honest fellow who, no doubt, has a wife and family to support, I must, in all humanity, keep them covered,' Orlando thought. Yet her legs were among her chieftest beauties. And she fell to thinking what an odd pass we have come to when all a woman's beauty has to be kept covered lest a sailor fall from a mast-head. 'A pox on them!' she said, realizing for the first time what, in other circumstances, she would have been taught as a child, that is to say, the sacred responsibilities of womanhood...
Summary
This quote, from Virginia Woolf's novel "Orlando," explores the societal expectations placed on women's appearance and their impact on men. The protagonist, Orlando, realizes that even a glimpse of her ankles could be such a distraction that it may lead to a tragic accident. She questions the absurdity of a world where a woman's beauty must be hidden for the sake of a man's focus and stability. In doing so, she reflects on the societal notions of modesty and the constraints placed upon women, realizing the significant responsibilities and restrictions that come with being a woman.
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
