Geraldine: I've no idea who my father was. Prentice: I'd better be frank, Miss Barclay. I can't employ you if you're in any way miraculous. It would be contrary to established practice. You did have a father? Geraldine: Oh, I'm sure I did. My mother was frugal in her habits, but she'd never economize unwisely.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- An employer refuses to hire someone if her lineage is unclear, showing absurd bureaucratic rigidity about family history.
- In plain terms
- The employer won't hire someone who doesn't know her father clearly.
- What can you take from it?
- Bureaucratic rules can block employment based on absurd criteria.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How rigid are hiring standards really?
- Why does family history matter for employment?
Another view
It exaggerates hiring practices to make a point about exclusion.
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