gendered egoism: I have been thinking lately about the difference between male egoism and female egoism. Mental note to think about this throughout novel: the idea that women need a view to the outside and men don't. What does this say about selfishness? (i.e. "My own life in this room is fascinating enough," versus "I desperately need to observe the outside world") Or is it rather a commentary on the private/public sphere? I'd be more interested to explore the idea of gendered (inculcated or not) selfishness