Where Angels Fear to Tread Duty Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)

Quote #4

"Think of your life at home—think of Irma! And I'll also say think of us; for you know, Lilia, that we count you more than a relation." (2.105)

Philip pleads with Lilia to think of her responsibilities to Irma, and how her marriage to Gino would threaten her domestic life. But he's only pressuring Lilia to be a dutiful mother in order to protect the Herriton name. This is a great example of how Forster shows the hypocrisy behind characters who use the call of "duty" as a way to bully and guilt-trip.

Quote #5

"For once in my life I'll thank you to leave me alone. I'll thank your mother too. For twelve years you've trained me and tortured me, and I'll stand it no more. Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think I never felt? Ah! when I came to your house a poor young bride, how you all looked me over—never a kind word—and discussed me, and thought I might just do; and your mother corrected me, and your sister snubbed me, and you said funny things about me to show how clever you were! And when Charles died I was still to run in strings for the honour of your beastly family, and I was to be cooped up at Sawston and learn to keep house, and all my chances spoilt of marrying again. No, thank you!" (2.109)

We want to throw Lilia a party for finally standing up to Philip in this scene. She totally puts Philip in his place when she says she's sick of being forced to uphold her duty as a widow by "keeping house" and being "cooped up" for the rest of her life. For once, Lilia is taking her happiness in her own hands and doing what she wants.

Quote #6

"Yes; we counted on you," said Philip, with sudden sharpness. (5.45)

Philip tells off Miss Abbott for her failure to keep the Herritons in the loop about Lilia's engagement. The whole point of having Miss Abbott accompany Lilia to Italy was so that the Herritons would have eyes and ears on Lilia at all times. But in Philip's point of view, Caroline fails to do her duty by keeping silent until it was too late.