She said to Constance, parodying a line of poetry that attracted her, 'In the United States, there one feels free.' But she spoiled it by continuing, 'Except from the Americans - but every pearl has its oyster.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker mocks the idea of American freedom by noting it excludes freedom from Americans themselves, using a pearl metaphor for hidden constraints.
- In plain terms
- Freedom in the US is ironic because you are not free from the people there.
- What can you take from it?
- Freedom often comes with hidden social constraints.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does freedom mean to you?
- Are you free from your peers?
Another view
The quote relies on wordplay that may obscure the literal meaning.
More from Randall Jarrell
It is better to entertain an idea than to take it home to live with you for the rest of your life.
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