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Enya
Bodhe’s wife and mistress, who he marries after the death of his first wife, Ailsa. Dolina is a fairly traditional woman, who manages the household and complies with her husband’s requests, and therefore expects Gruadh, her stepdaughter, to be a similar model of medieval womanhood. Her relationship with Gruadh is occasionally antagonistic, as Gruadh is not satisfied with being confined to the home, and wants to learn Celtic magic, which the devoutly Christian Dolina disapproves of, as well as sword craft. Still, she loves Gruadh and helps prepare her for special events like her betrothal and wedding, and sends her gifts once she has moved away. After Bodhe’s death Dolina leaves Abernethy, where she had spent most of her time, and lives on one of Gruadh’s remaining holdings in Fife.
Dolina Quotes in Lady Macbeth
The Lady Macbeth quotes below are all either spoken by Dolina or refer to Dolina. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 19
Quotes
“The old legends are filled with such women—the great Irish queen, Macha, and Princess Scathach of Skye, who trained warriors in her fighting school, and also her sister Aoife, who bested Cu Chulainn and bore his son […] Celtic women have fought beside their men since before the names of kings were remembered. And even though Rome forbids Gaelic women to fight, it is rightful enough according to our customs.”
“They forbid with good reason,” Maeve said, bouncing Lulach on her lap. “Women have enough to do and should not have to go out and fight men’s battles, too.” […]
“The eyes of the Church cannot easily see beyond the mountains of the Gaels,” I said, “where warlike behavior in a woman is not sinful heresy, and is sometimes even necessary.” And I remembered my early vows—as a girl taking up a sword to defend herself, as a woman swearing on a sword to defend her own. Another facet of my obligation to my long legacy came clear: if others were so set on eliminating my line, and I and Lulach the last of it, then I would be steadfast as any warrior.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Lady Macbeth LitChart as a printable PDF.
Dolina Quotes in Lady Macbeth
The Lady Macbeth quotes below are all either spoken by Dolina or refer to Dolina. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 19
Quotes
“The old legends are filled with such women—the great Irish queen, Macha, and Princess Scathach of Skye, who trained warriors in her fighting school, and also her sister Aoife, who bested Cu Chulainn and bore his son […] Celtic women have fought beside their men since before the names of kings were remembered. And even though Rome forbids Gaelic women to fight, it is rightful enough according to our customs.”
“They forbid with good reason,” Maeve said, bouncing Lulach on her lap. “Women have enough to do and should not have to go out and fight men’s battles, too.” […]
“The eyes of the Church cannot easily see beyond the mountains of the Gaels,” I said, “where warlike behavior in a woman is not sinful heresy, and is sometimes even necessary.” And I remembered my early vows—as a girl taking up a sword to defend herself, as a woman swearing on a sword to defend her own. Another facet of my obligation to my long legacy came clear: if others were so set on eliminating my line, and I and Lulach the last of it, then I would be steadfast as any warrior.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
