And all her shining keys will be took from her, and her cupboards opened; and little things a' didn't wish seen, anybody will see; and her wishes and ways will all be as nothing!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The threat of posthumous judgment strips away privacy, exposing private thoughts and habits to public view.
- In plain terms
- After death, private things will be seen by others, making your wishes matter nothing.
- What can you take from it?
- Death removes privacy and invalidates personal boundaries.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What private things define us?
- How much does legacy matter?
Another view
It exaggerates the extent of posthumous exposure in modern contexts.
More from Thomas Hardy
She had the hard, half-apathetic expression of one who deems anything possible at the hands of Time and Chance except, perhaps, fair play.
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