Quote by Virginia Woolf
The most transient visitor to this planet, I thought, who picked up this paper could not fail to be aware, even from this scattered testimony, that England is under the rule of a patriarchy. Nobody in their senses could fail to detect the dominance of the professor. His was the power and the money and the influence. He was the proprietor of the paper and its editor and sub-editor. He was the Foreign Secretary and the Judge. He was the cricketer; he owned the racehorses and the yachts. He was the director of the company that pays two hundred per cent to its shareholders. He left millions to charities and colleges that were ruled by himself. He suspended the film actress in mid-air. He will decide if the hair on the meat axe is human; he it is who will acquit or convict the murderer, and hang him, or let him go free. With the exception of the fog he seemed to control everything.
Summary
This quote highlights the pervasive influence and dominance of a patriarchal system in England. The author emphasizes the power held by men, particularly the professor, who is portrayed as the embodiment of authority and control in various domains. Whether it is wealth, politics, sports, or media, this patriarchal figure seems to hold ultimate power and influence. The quote suggests that this dominance extends even to essential decision-making processes, such as determining guilt or innocence and administering justice. Overall, it contends that England operates under a system where men overwhelmingly hold and exert power.
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
