Like for like Quotes on Motherhood Flashcards
“it was her affection for her parents, her tender care for them, her desire that they should love her, and be proud of her, that had been the text of her life” (tess)
“And she wished she could tell her that she loved her, but it was something she would always feel awkward saying out loud. She wished she had a more effusive personality, the kind that spilled out of some people like sunlight, but she had always been a bit shy and reserved, even with her own mother” (ATSS)
These two quotes both touch on the idea of daughters love for her mother. In Tess, her affection for her parents is a central part of her character, while in ATSS, Mariam struggles to express her love for her mother due to her shy and reserved personality.
“I have a new baby, and it takes up all my time” (Tess)
“When she had to work in the fields, Aziza came with her. Mariam would wrap her daughter in a shawl, strap her to her back, and work the fields with one hand. When Aziza was hungry, Mariam stopped working and nursed her. Together, they sat on the ground awl spread out like a picnic blanket. Aziza’s eyes followed Mariam everywhere” (ATSS)
These quotes both highlight the challenges of motherhood, particularly in terms of balancing childcare with other responsibilities. In Tess, Tess’ new baby takes up all her time, leaving her little opportunity to do anything else. In ATSS, Mariam must bring her daughter with her to work in the fields, and must stop working to nurse him when hes hungry.
“the baby was born, and she had not written to her mother-in-law, as her husband had forbidden her to do” (tess)
“Laila held the baby aloft. It was a boy. Zalmai. She looked up at Mariam, expecting to see a smile. But Mariam’s expression was muted, neither happy nor sad. Then Laila understood: For Mariam, this was not just another grandchild. This was the first and only one” (ATSS)
These quotes both touch on the idea of family expectations and obligations. In Tess, Tess is forbidden from contacting her husband’s family, leaving her isolated and without support. In ATSS, Mariams lack of emotions at the birth of her grandchild highlights to complex and strained relationships within her family.
“her face fry and pale, as though she regarded herself in the lights of a murderess” (Tess)
“then one morning, Laila woke up to the sound of Aziza had called her that. Laila cried and held the baby to her chest” (ATSS)
Both of these quotes show the emotional weight that motherhood can carry. In Tess, Tess feels guilty and ashamed for conceiving a child out of wedlock. In ATSS, Laila’s joy at being called “Mama” by her daughter highlights the deep love and connection that can exist between a mother and child.
“she was altogether woman; such, the adjectives of her sec might be directly applied to her; and it was impossible to contemplate the delicate shade of her profile, and the dark comma of her mouth, without conceding that latent warmth of nature which is called womanliness” (Tess)
“Mariam wished for so much in those final moments. Yet as she closed her eyes, it wasn’t regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that washed over her. She thought of her entry into this world, the Harami child of lowly villager, an unintended thing, a pitiable, regrettable accident. A weed. And yet she was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last” (ATSS)
These two quotes highlight the power and strength of womanhood and motherhood. In Tess, Tess’s womanliness is described as a force of nature, while in ATSS, Mariam reflects on the legacy she leaves behind as a mother and a person of consequence.
“Tess’s own dormant sentimetns burst into vivid life” (Tess)
“It was the kind of love that, sooner or later, cornered you into a choice: either you tore free or you stayed and withstood its rigor even as it squeezed you into something smaller than yourself” (ATSS)
These quotes both touch on the intense and sometimes overwhelming nature of motherly love. In Tess, Tess’s own feelings are awakened by the birth of her child, while in ATSS, Laila reflects on the depth of love she feels for her own children.
