To be a woman condemned to a wretched and disgraceful punishment is no impediment to beauty, but it is an insurmountable obstacle to power. Like all persons of real genius, her ladyship well knew what accorded with her nature and her means. Poverty disgusted her -subjection deprived her of two-thirds of her greatness. Her ladyship was only a queen amongst queens: the enjoyment of satisfied pride was essential to her sway. To command beings of an inferior nature, was, to her, rather a humiliation than a pleasure.
The passage highlights the deep connection between beauty, power, and societal status, particularly from a female perspective. It suggests that while a woman can retain her beauty even under severe punishment, her ability to wield power is fundamentally compromised. The character recognizes that true greatness is stifled by poverty and subjugation, emphasizing the importance of autonomy and respect in one’s authority.
Furthermore, the text illustrates that her ladyship considers herself not...