The Moonstone Gender Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Collins doesn't use traditional chapters in The Moonstone, so the citations are a little trickier than in other Victorian novels. Citations follow this format: (Period.Narrative.Chapter.Paragraph).

Quote #4

And what about her disposition next? Had this charming creature no faults? She had just as many faults as you have, ma'am—neither more nor less. (1.1.8.18)

Once again, Betteredge appeals to generalizations in order to make a point about an individual woman. This time, though, it's a little different – he asks the reader (whom he assumes is a woman, because he calls her "ma'am") how many faults she has. Rachel, he says, is no different from your average woman. She's not perfect.

Quote #5

She was unlike most other girls of her age, in this—that she had ideas of her own, and was stiff-necked enough to set the fashions themselves at defiance, if the fashions didn't suit her views. (1.1.8.19)

Again, Betteredge describes Rachel by saying how different she is from the norm. She's "unlike most other girls of her age."

Quote #6

She judged for herself, as few women of twice her age judge in general; never asked your advice; never told you beforehand what she was going to do; never came with secrets and confidences to anybody, from her mother downwards. (1.1.8.19)

Rachel's not just different from girls of her own age; she's compared to "women of twice of age."