Women and Femininity Quotes in The Other Boleyn Girl

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"She's my wife. She does as well as I do. But she doesn't own anything of her own."

"It's the same for me," I said. "I do as my father does, as my husband does. I dress as is proper for their wife or their daughter. But I don't own anything on my account. In that sense I am as poor as your wife." (2.600)

Mary longs for a country life, mainly because it would take her away from her family. She'd rather be away from the patriarchal Boleyn family and be poor than be close to wealth and be under the control of men.

Quote #5

"There is no freedom for women in this world, fight or not as you like. See where Anne has brought herself." (6.113)

Anne earns a bit of freedom, and she is instantly punished for it. The men in this society don't want to see a woman be too successful, so they do everything they can to keep the ladies down.

Quote #6

"Wolsey, the Archbishop of York himself, says I am a virgin. You can't be more of a virgin than me." (8.41)

This isn't just Anne's wicked dry humor shining through, this is a line showing us how a woman's virginity is a concept created and controlled by men.