"We were kept at work, and permitted to speak with each other only on such subjects as related to the Convent, and all in the hearing of the old nuns who sat by us"

This quote from Maria Monk paints a brilliant photo of the oppressive environment of the convent she was maintained in. It recommends that the nuns were maintained under stringent surveillance and also were not allowed to speak easily with each various other. The existence of the old religious women, who were most likely in charge of the convent, implies that the religious women were not enabled to talk about anything aside from the convent itself. This suggests that the nuns were not enabled to speak about their individual lives or any type of other subjects that were not related to the convent. This quote highlights the overbearing and also limiting setting of the convent, where the nuns were not enabled to express themselves easily. It additionally suggests that the religious women were not allowed to form purposeful connections with each other, as their conversations were frequently kept track of by the old nuns.