It has been drummed into her by physicians and priests alike that the character of a child is determined by the mother's thoughts at the moment of conception.
-- Narrator ("The Unfortunate Circumstance of Lucrezia's Conception)

Importance: The author utilizes this moment in the text to deepen her thematic inspection of the patriarchy. After the birth of her fifth child, Eleanora fears that she will be blamed for the baby’s ill temper. In a society that faults women for any issues arising from childbirth, backed by religion and science, the Duchess is afraid that she will be disposed of. Conversely, Cosimo’s character and actions are not called into question after Lucrezia’s birth because the patriarchy absolves him of any error.

The sounds, Lucrezia thought, of a creature captured against its will, a creature whose desires have all been disregarded.
-- Narrator (The First Tiger in Tuscany)

Importance: This quotation serves to bolster Lucrezia’s experience as a woman in the nobility system in 1500s...