The Long Queen Flashcards
(5 cards)
“The Long Queen couldn’t die.”
The Queen becomes immortal, symbolizing how female suffering and resilience transcend time.
Could also suggest how the expectations of womanhood remain constant.
“Women, girls, spinsters and hags, matrons, wet nurses, witches.”
A list of different female identities, showing how all women fall under the Queen’s rule.
The repetition of labels emphasizes how society categorizes women.
“Daughters heard the stories, listened and learned.”
Reinforces the passing down of female experiences through generations.
Suggests women are shaped by history and shared struggles.
“Her word was law.”
Usually, kings hold power, but here a queen dictates fate.
Implies female strength, but also the burden of responsibility
“The pain when a girl first bled to be women, the history of childbirth.”
Women’s suffering (menstruation, childbirth) is central to their identity.
The phrase “history of childbirth” suggests it is an eternal cycle.
