Quote by Camille Anna Paglia
Pregnancy demonstrates the deterministic character of woman's sexuality. Every pregnant woman has body and self taken over by a chthonian force beyond her control. In the welcome pregnancy, this is a happy sacrifice. But in the unwanted one, initiated by rape or misadventure, it is a horror. Such unfortunate women look directly into nature's heart of Darkness. For a fetus is a benign tumor, a vampire who steals in order to live. The so-called miracle of birth is nature getting her own way.
Summary
This quote suggests that pregnancy highlights the lack of control women have over their own bodies and sexuality. It argues that when a woman becomes pregnant willingly, it can be seen as a positive sacrifice. However, in the case of an unwanted pregnancy, whether due to rape or accidental circumstances, it is seen as a horrifying experience. The quote further depicts a fetus as a symbol of intrusion and dependency, implying that nature itself is asserting its power over women. Overall, it portrays pregnancy as a complex and often unsettling phenomenon for women.
Topics
Birth
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