A Room of One's Own Mary Beton Quotes

Mary Beton

Quote 10

Merely to read the titles [of books by men about women] suggested innumerable schoolmasters, innumerable clergymen mounting their platforms and pulpits [...] Women do not write books about men. (2.2)

We see who has power by looking at who is writing about whom. Does that mean that women can get more power in the world just by writing about men? And would anyone listen?

Mary Beton

Quote 11

Hence the enormous importance to a patriarch who has to conquer, who has to rule, of feeling that great numbers of people, half the human race indeed, are by nature inferior to himself. It must be one of the chief sources of his power. (2.12)

If these great important men need women, what will happen when we stop thinking that women are inferior? Will men have to adapt? Or will society just fall apart. Well, it depends on whom you asked.

Mary Beton

Quote 12

Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size. Without that power probably the earth would still be swamp and jungle. (2.12)

Okay, this is definitely power. But what kind of power is it? Would you want this power? We might rather just be ourselves.