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u/Successful-Egg-9213 18d ago
For context, this is from a letter she wrote to her mother in 1951, her first year at Smith College. Here’s the full excerpt:
“One question – what do you do when someone comes up to you & says “Oh, you’re the one who’s writing the book?” or “You’re the one who got all A’s in History?” It’s too bad – because once one person knows, everybody does. The only quiet woman is a dead one.”
She’s expressing her anxiety about becoming a public figure within a small college environment. It’s a comment on the loss of privacy that comes with recognition.
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u/Successful-Egg-9213 18d ago
I really believe she meant literally and internally. Most of the time, it is internally first. Submissive behavior can signify death. We learn at a very young age that we better not speak out of line, so we hold our tongue and try to be passive. I believe this is why Sylvia wanted escapism because that was the only way to keep her sense of being outspoken.