"That is partly why women marry - to keep up the fiction of being in the hub of things"
- Elizabeth Bowen
About this Quote
This quote by Elizabeth Bowen suggests that females typically wed for the function of preserving the illusion of being at the center of their lives. This might be translated as a commentary on the conventional gender roles of the time, in which ladies were anticipated to be the homemakers and caretakers of the family. By weding, ladies were able to preserve the impression of being in control of their lives, even if they were not really in control. This quote might likewise be analyzed as a criticism of the concept that ladies ought to be dependent on males for their joy and security. By weding, women had the ability to keep the illusion of being in control of their lives, even if they were not in fact in control. This quote might be seen as a reminder that ladies should not depend on males for their happiness and security, but must instead strive to be independent and self-dependent. Eventually, this quote works as a tip that females should not be specified by their marital status, but need to instead strive to be independent and self-dependent.