"There has been a time on earth when poets had been young and dead and famous - and were men. But now the poet as the tragic child of grandeur and destiny had changed. The child of genius was a woman, now, and the man was gone"

Tom Wolfe's quote shows an observant commentary on the evolving nature of literary culture and societal norms worrying gender and creative identity. Through these words, he recommends a change in the archetype of the poet with time, highlighting both historic continuity and modification.

Initially, the phrase "poets had been young and dead and famous - and were guys" evokes the classical picture of poets as mainly male figures, often glamorized for their tragic, short lived lives and posthumous recognition. This images recollects figures like John Keats or Lord Byron, who were commemorated for their genius however had their lifetimes cut short. Wolfe appears to suggest that this archetype was traditionally rooted in a patriarchal society that valorized male imagination and genius.

Nevertheless, Wolfe notes a shift with "the poet as the terrible kid of grandeur and fate had altered." Here, he introduces the concept of the poet not simply defined by their tragic end however also by an intrinsic greatness and a sense of predestined purpose. This change shows a wider, developing understanding of imagination and its sources. Wolfe competes that the conventional male figure associated with such characteristics has actually been changed; "the kid of genius was a woman now, and the man was gone." This powerful assertion talks to the increasing acknowledgment and valorization of female voices and perspectives in the literary domain.

The transition from a male-centric view of poetic genius to one that welcomes female identity represents a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity and the taking apart of patriarchal standards in the arts. In commemorating ladies as the brand-new precursors of genius, Wolfe acknowledges the altering landscape of literary impact, in turn recommending a more varied and rich tapestry of poetic expression. By welcoming female genius, society broadens its scope of understanding and appreciation for the complex nature of creativity and intelligence.