The girl's life had been squandered in the streets, and among the most noisome of the stews and dens of London, but there was something of the woman's original nature left in her still; and when she heard a light step approaching the door opposite to that by which she had entered, and thought of the wide contrast which the small room would in another moment contain, she felt burdened with the sense of her own deep shame: and shrunk as though she could scarcely bear the presence of her with whom she had sought this interview. Charles Dickens
About This Quote

When a woman is a prostitute, her life has been wasted. She no longer knows how to respect herself or others. She has been used and abused so much that she no longer feels like a human being. However, although she is not as good as she once was, she still has some remnants of her dignity and self-respect that didn’t survive the years of selling her body for money.

When it comes to sex, there is nothing worse than feeling like you are being forced into it. That is why this quote by William Shakespeare is so poignant: even though it may be true for many women and girls today, many of them still have dignity and self-respect enough left to feel shame at the very idea of having sex with someone against their will.

Source: Oliver Twist

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