How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Hence the enormous importance to a patriarch who has to conquer, who has to rule, of feeling that great numbers of people, half the human race indeed, are by nature inferior to himself. It must be one of the chief sources of his power. (2.12)
If these great important men need women, what will happen when we stop thinking that women are inferior? Will men have to adapt? Or will society just fall apart. Well, it depends on whom you asked.
Quote #8
Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size. Without that power probably the earth would still be swamp and jungle. (2.12)
Okay, this is definitely power. But what kind of power is it? Would you want this power? We might rather just be ourselves.
Quote #9
There was another ten-shilling note in my purse; I noticed it, because it is a fact that still takes my breath away—the power of my purse to breed ten-shilling notes automatically. (2.13)
Mary's purse sounds like Garfield's magic lasagna pan. Note that though her purse is the thing with the power in this sentence, you might say we're really talking about the power of the narrator's inheritance.