“Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.”
Analysis of Quote from Charles Dickens
In this quote from Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations, the character of Mrs. Joe is described as being a meticulous housekeeper, yet her obsessive need for cleanliness actually makes the environment more unpleasant. This highlights the idea that perfectionism and rigidity can sometimes create discomfort and discord in relationships and environments. Mrs. Joe's attitude towards cleanliness is so extreme that it becomes oppressive and stifling, suggesting that there can be a negative side to being overly focused on cleanliness and order.
The Power of Perception
In Charles Dickens' novel, "Great Expectations," he describes the character Mrs. Joe as someone who takes cleanliness to an extreme, making her meticulous habits more unpleasant than actual dirt. This quote highlights the idea that sometimes, our actions or behaviors, no matter how well-intentioned, can actually have negative effects. This concept is still relevant today, as it serves as a reminder that moderation and consideration for others are important in all aspects of life.
Quote from Charles Dickens
In this quote from Charles Dickens, the character Mrs. Joe is described as a very clean housekeeper, but her obsession with cleanliness actually makes her home uncomfortable and unpleasant. This quote highlights the idea that cleanliness can sometimes be taken to an extreme.
Reflection Questions
Reflecting on this quote by Charles Dickens, consider the following questions:
- In what ways can cleanliness be taken to an extreme, making it more unpleasant than the dirt itself?
- How does Mrs. Joe's approach to cleanliness reflect on her character and relationships with others?
- Have you ever encountered someone who prioritizes cleanliness to the point of it being uncomfortable or unwelcoming? How did it affect your perception of them?
- How can balance be achieved in maintaining a clean environment without becoming overbearing or off-putting to others?
Similar quotes
“Mrs Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her clenliness more umcomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself. Cleanliness is next to godliness, and some people do the same by their religion.”
“Sweat cleaned you as effectively as water. But this was the race which had invented the proverb that cleanliness was next to godliness - cleanliness, not purity.”
“What really does work to increase the feeling of having a home and its comforts is housekeeping. Housekeeping creates cleanliness, order, regularity, beauty, the conditions for health and safety, and a good place to do and feel all the things you wish and need to do and feel in your home. Whether you live alone or with a spouse, parents, and ten children, it is your housekeeping that makes your home alive, that turns it into a small society in its own right, a vital place with its own ways and rhythms, the place where you can be more yourself than you can be anywhere else.”
“At ten, she was moreover noisy and wild, hated confinement and cleanliness and loved nothing so well in the world as rolling down the green slope at the back of the house. At fifteen, appearances were mending; she began to curl her hair and long for balls; her complexion improved, her features were softened by plumpness and colour, her eyes gained more animation, and her figure more consequence. Her love of dirt gave away to inclination for finery, and she grew clean as she grew smart. To look almost pretty, is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain the first fifteen years of her life, than a beauty from her cradle can ever imagine.”
“I was more than this meek, defenseless victim. I had something within me that was stronger than the sum of all my unacceptable parts.”