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About this quote

What does it mean?
This quote describes a woman with harsh physical features and artificial hair, suggesting a stern or unyielding personality.
In plain terms
The woman looks tough and unnatural, with a hard face and fixed hair.
What can you take from it?
Physical details can reveal character traits like hardness or rigidity.

Where it applies

  • character sketch
  • novel description
  • profile writing

Putting it to work

  • describe a character
  • set a mood
  • reveal traits

Questions to consider

  • How does appearance shape our first impressions?
  • What makes a description vivid?

Another view

It relies heavily on visual stereotypes that might feel outdated.

More from Raymond Chandler

  1. ...crazy as a couple of waltzing mice.

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  2. He didn't curl his lip because it had been curled when he came in.

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  3. I needed a drink. I needed a lot of life insurance. I needed a vacation. I needed a home in the country. What I had was a hat, a coat and a gun. I put them on …

    Permalink to quote #18

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