Such is frequently the fate, and such the stern development, of the feminine character and person, when the woman has encountered, and lived through, an experience of peculiar severity. If she be all tenderness, she will die. If she survive, the tenderness will either be crushed out of her, or—and the outward semblance is the same—crushed so deeply into her heart that it can never show itself more.”
― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
Author Adrienne Morris 
5 responses to ““Some attribute had departed from her, the permanence of which had been essential to keep her a woman.””
I hope this applies to one one of your characters. not you.
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That’s a self-portrait. Only kidding. I’m a pretty happy person and feel the same as when I was ten–in outlook.
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Do you feel old or young?
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I have always been very old and very young. I don’t feel time; which is part reason for dawdling in finishing my book. My outlook has changed though; the world is much uglier than I ever dreamed. Very complicated, too. I saw places like the Philippines on TV, but didn’t really expect such a place still existed. Imagine a compassionate but horny guy trying to figure out how to deal with a carnal candy store. Do you hand out money because you feel bad they seel themselves or let them do their job like they expect?
I didn’t figure your quote had anything to do with you. Very dark find; a different type of horror.
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My husband mentioned a few surreal moments in the Philippines as well during his time in the Navy. carnal candy stores are tough to pass up 🙂
The quote interested me because I don’t really believe that once something horrible happens to you that you never have hope again. Sometimes the most horrific things lead to an uncommon sense of grace and joy.
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