Proverbs : Commonplace Book

"If, at the time of choosing, Claire hadn't precisely reckoned the cost, she had, nevertheless, no right to expect others to help make up the reckoning.The trouble with Clair was, not only that she wanted to have her cake and eat it too, but that she wanted to nibble at the cakes of other folk as well." 
p 87, Passing, by Nella Larsen

       This is an interesting play on the well-known proverb, "She wanted to haver her cake and eat it too." It gives us very interesting imagery while also providing a commentary on Claire's character. We may not know exactly what the proverb means, but we do know that it's something that's generally looked down upon. It's selfish or greedy, and the idea that she is eating everyone else's cake in addition to her own goes so far as to sound absurd. We haven't met this woman, but we almost instantly dislike her. This use of a proverb is unique because it builds on it, instead of changing or altering it.