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Quote 14. “We don't ask what a woman does—we ask whom she belongs to. It's altogether a degrading thing to you to think of marrying old Tulliver’s daughter.” Explanation and Analysis. When Philip tries to persuade his father to support his proposed marriage with Maggie, Mr. Wakem at first balks at the idea of an alliance with the Tullivers, who have been his enemies for years. Philip points out that Maggie was never personally hostile to him and never participated in the quarrel. For Mr. Wakem, however, Maggie’s personal behavior is irrelevant. What matters to him is her family identity, since “we don’t ask what a woman does—we ask whom she belongs to.” Mr. Wakem thinks Maggie “belongs” to the Tullivers, and not only because family loyalties and memories are paramount in this community. Mr. Wakem’s opinion is also a comment on gender roles. For women, in particular, it is nearly impossible to forge an independent identity outside of family bonds. Mr. Wakem doesn't see Maggie as an independent person; he sees her as an appendage to her father and brother.