How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used William Archer's translation.
Quote #7
MRS. ALVING. Other people's? One other person's, you mean. (1.361)
Mrs. Alving immediately recognizes Pastor Manders's Achilles heel: his fear of public condemnation. She calls him a "big baby," and part of her wants to protect him. Why else would she agree not to insure the orphanage?
Quote #8
MRS. ALVING. And you know what power Alving had of winning people's hearts. Nobody seemed able to believe anything but good of him. He was one of those people whose life does not bite upon their reputation. (1.399)
In his joy-of-lifey way, Captain Alving charmed the neighbors who may otherwise have thought badly of him. We can just imagine the couple at a party: he's the fun one, she's serious.
Quote #9
ENGSTRAND. And to think that such a thing should happen to a benevolent Institution, that was to have been a blessing both to town and country, as the saying goes! The newspapers won't be for handling your Reverence very gently, I expect. (3.36)
And the wily carpenter sticks his finger right into Pastor Manders's open wound. Like Mrs. Alving, Engstrand recognizes that the Pastor fears public humiliation above all else. Unlike Mrs. Alving, he uses that knowledge to secure his own stability.