Like for like Quotes on Class difference Flashcards
“Why it was that upon this beautiful feminine tissue, sensitive as gossamer, and practically blank as snow as yet, there should have been traced such a coarse pattern as it was doomed to receive; why so often the coarse appropriates the finer thus, the wrong man the woman, the wrong woman the man, many thousand years of analytical philosophy have failed to explain to our sense of order.” - Tess of the d’Urbervilles
“Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.” - A Thousand Splendid Suns
In these quotes, the characters are questioning the injustice of the way in which societal structures determine a person’s fate. In Tess, the narrator reflects on the irony that Tess, who is pure and innocent, is subjected to a fate that is determined by societal structures beyond her control. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam’s mother warns her daughter about the gender inequalities that exist within their society and the way in which women are often blamed for the problems caused by men.
“The beauty or ugliness of a character lay not only in its achievements, but in its aims and impulses; its true history lay, not among things done, but among things willed.” - Tess of the d’Urbervilles
“When you’re a cripple, you can’t afford to scorn anyone.” - A Thousand Splendid Suns
In these quotes, the characters are reflecting on the ways in which class and physical ability impact a person’s life. In Tess, the narrator suggests that a person’s character is not solely defined by their achievements but also by their aspirations and motivations. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Laila’s father, who is physically disabled, recognizes the importance of not judging others based on superficial characteristics.
“Poverty, so suggestive of disorder and disaster to the well-fed classes, was to his [Angel’s] accustomed eyes only Nature’s overflow, the dregs of existence, and it was rumoured that he had a secret sympathy with the starving classes.” - Tess of the d’Urbervilles
“Behind every trial and sorrow that He makes us shoulder, God has a reason.” - A Thousand Splendid Suns
In these quotes, the characters are expressing different attitudes towards poverty and hardship. In Tess, Angel views poverty as a natural consequence of society, and he is rumored to sympathize with the plight of the poor. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam’s mother seeks to find meaning and purpose in the suffering that she and her daughter endure, through faith in God.
“The struggles of fate can only be measured by the degree of resistance offered to them, and the nature of the resistance depends on the force that is being overcome.” - Tess of the d’Urbervilles
“Better to endure the discomfort of too much ceremony than to suffer the embarrassment of too little.” - A Thousand Splendid Suns
These quotes highlight the importance of resistance and resilience in the face of adversity, particularly for characters from lower socioeconomic classes. In Tess, the narrator suggests that one’s response to the struggles of fate is an indicator of one’s character, while in A Thousand Splendid Suns, the character Nana emphasizes the importance of adhering to social norms and expectations, even if they are uncomfortable or inconvenient.
“The real sin against life is to abuse and destroy beauty, even one’s own - even more, one’s own, for that has been put in our care and we are responsible for its well-being.” - Tess of the d’Urbervilles
“I want you to remember that. Also, that you’re a Pashtun and nothing is more honorable than being a Pashtun. You will learn this, Laila jo.” - A Thousand Splendid Suns
These quotes reflect the characters’ values and sense of identity. In Tess, the narrator emphasizes the importance of preserving beauty, while in A Thousand Splendid Suns, Laila’s mother seeks to instill a sense of pride and loyalty in her daughter for their cultural heritage.
“For that which had been spontaneous action in the peasant was, in the large towns, forced into a system. It was the difference between being caught in a handmill, and being run through the rollers of a cider-press.” - Tess of the d’Urbervilles
“Women like us. We endure. It’s all we have.” - A Thousand Splendid Suns
These quotes reflect the characters’ perspectives on the ways in which urbanization and modernization have impacted their lives. In Tess, the narrator suggests that the social and economic systems of urban life are oppressive and limiting, while in A Thousand Splendid Suns, the character Mariam reflects on the resilience required of women who face hardship and adversity.
