The flowers in the bride’s hand are sadly like the garland which decked the heifers of sacrifice in old times! ”“ Still, Sue, it is no worse for the woman than for the man. That’s what some women fail to see, and instead of protesting against the conditions they protest against the man, the other victim; just as a woman in a crowd will abuse the man who crushes against her, when he is only the helpless transmitter of the pressure put upon him. Thomas Hardy
About This Quote

Queen Victoria was referring to the practice of sacrificing heifers when she wrote, “The flowers in the bride’s hand are sadly like the garlands which decked the heifers of sacrifice in old times!” She was not referring to marriage by way of marriage or love, but rather to the ancient custom of sacrificing heifers to the gods. By trying to put a positive spin on it, by saying that it is “no worse” than the sacrifice of an animal, Queen Victoria was obviously trying to make light of something that was far from funny. This is not unlike saying that rape is no worse than consensual sex.

Source: Jude The Obscure

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