"A thinking woman sleeps with monsters"

In this quote, Adrienne Rich is suggesting that a woman who is smart and reflective is not scared to challenge and engage with the darker, more complicated elements of life. By "beasts," she might be describing the societal standards and expectations that women are frequently anticipated to comply with, or the inner demons and fears that all of us have. Rich is indicating that a woman who is genuinely thoughtful and aware will not avoid these obstacles, but rather will face them head on and gain from them. This quote commemorates the strength and guts of a female who is unafraid to check out the depths of her own mind and the world around her.