Out of Africa Escape Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Out of Africa.

Quote #4

KAREN: It's an odd feeling, farewell. There is some envy in it. Men go off to be tested for courage. If we're tested at all, it's for patience, for doing without, for how well we can endure loneliness. But I had always known that. It didn't require a war. I said goodbye to Bror. Denys left without a word, which was quite proper.

Here's an example of how some things didn't change after she schlepped all the way to Africa. Men still have the privilege of freedom, while the women wait around for them. She sees this as woman's eternal role.

Quote #5

BERKELEY: Talk to her, will you?

DENYS: No.

BERKELEY: She could be hurt or worse.

DENYS: I imagine she knows that.

BERKELEY: Right. I tried.

DENYS: Here. Find a spot on the horizon each morning and steer by it. South, southwest. About three days.

Karen is risking her life delivering supplies to the front. Berkeley responds with a bit of chivalry, but he's barking up the wrong tree. Denys, on the other hand understands her, and decides to show her how to take care of herself rather than demeaning her with well-meaning mansplaining.

Quote #6

KAREN: I had a compass from Denys. To steer by, he said. But later it came to me, that we navigated differently. Perhaps he knew, as I did not, that the Earth was made round, so that we would not see too far down the road.

Karen says this right before she finds out she gets syphilis. It's an elegant reminder that there are some things that are inescapable.