I wanted to say, Who am I to do this, a woman? But that voice was not mine. It was Father's voice. It was Thomas'. It belonged to Israel, to Catherine, and to Mother. It belonged to the church in Charleston and the Quakers in Philadelphia. It would not, if I could help it, belong to me.
In "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd, the protagonist grapples with the complexities of identity and societal expectations. She reflects on a moment where she questions her right to act boldly as a woman, but realizes that this doubt echoes the voices of significant figures in her life, including her father and others who have shaped her beliefs and limitations. These voices represent the constraints imposed by society.
The narrator's struggle illustrates a broader theme of personal agency versus cultural conditioning. She acknowledges the inherited voices that attempt to dictate her path but resolves that she will not let them define her identity. Her journey is about reclaiming her voice and asserting her place in a world that often undermines women's empowerment.
