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In prison, the food options were not too exciting. The menu rotated between chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, lasagna, burritos, and a mysterious fish patty that always made me gag. There would be vegetables on the side that would be cooked to the point of disintegration. I used to fantasize about what I would eat when I got out, but on my budget, the options weren’t much better.
This quote from Chapter Eight highlights Millie’s ongoing entrapment in the "prison of poverty." Even after leaving literal incarceration, she finds herself in a figurative prison where her financial limitations severely restrict her quality of life. Despite her fantasies of freedom, Millie’s inability to afford better food symbolizes how economic hardship continues to limit her autonomy and choices. This passage reinforces the theme that poverty is its own form of imprisonment, keeping Millie in a cycle of deprivation and unfulfilled desires. It also underscores the disillusionment she experiences, as the harsh reality of her economic situation makes her dreams of a better life feel unattainable. The quote highlights how financial constraints perpetuate her sense of entrapment and lack of control over her life.
And then I hear the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. It’s the sound of the door unlocking. It’s even better than when I got out of prison.
This quote from Chapter Fifty-Four reflects Millie’s profound sense of entrapment and how her experiences with imprisonment extend beyond physical confinement. When she hears the door unlocking, she compares it to the moment she was released from prison, emphasizing that the psychological torment she endures in the attic surpasses even her time in actual jail. Despite having been physically free after prison, this moment shows that Millie is still subject to forms of captivity—whether through her economic dependence, her job, or Andrew’s abuse. The quote underscores how The Housemaid portrays different layers of captivity, both literal and figurative, and how they intertwine to perpetuate her sense of helplessness.
It's not just the mattress that's comfortable. The sheets feel like I'm sleeping on a bed of silk. And the blanket is warm yet somehow light. So much better than the itchy woolen thing I've been sleeping under upstairs. And that awful scrawny blanket I had at the prison. Nice, expensive blankets feel good—who knew?
This quote from Chapter Thirty-Four illustrates Millie’s yearning for comfort and luxury after enduring years of deprivation, both in prison and while living in poverty. The contrast between the luxurious bed she experiences now and the harsh, uncomfortable bedding in prison—and even in the attic of the Winchester home—highlights how deeply ingrained her sense of scarcity is. The quote emphasizes how small luxuries, like a warm, comfortable blanket, symbolize something far greater: the desire for security, dignity, and belonging. Her astonishment at the comfort provided by the “nice, expensive blankets” underscores how unfamiliar she is with the idea of luxury, further accentuating the economic divide between her and the Winchesters. This passage not only captures the physical relief Millie feels but also symbolizes her longing for a life beyond the confines of poverty, where comfort is no longer a distant, unattainable dream.
