How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"We was drunk," Joad said softly. "Drunk at a dance. I don' know how she started. An' then I felt that knife go in me, an' that sobered me up. Fust thing I see is Herb comin' for me again with his knife. They was this here shovel leanin' against the school house, so I grabbed it an' smacked 'im over the head. I never had nothing against Herb. He was a nice fella." (6.92)
It's interesting that we never really learn why Herb attacks Tom in the first place.
Quote #5
[Tom Joad:] "'Course you get goddamn good an' sick a-doin' the same thing day after day for four years. If you done somepin you was ashamed of, you might think about that. But, hell, if I seen Herb Turnbull comin' for me with a knife right now, I'd squash him down with a shovel again." (6.100)
In Tom's world, there are repercussions for bad behavior, even if he likes you. Tom's all about honor.
Quote #6
[Ma Joad:] "I'm a-gonna tell you somepin about bein' in the pen. You can't go thinkin' when you're gonna be out. You'd go nuts. You got to think about that day, an' then the nex' day, about the ball game Sat'dy. That's what you got to do. Ol'timers does that. A new young fella gets buttin' his head on the cell door. He's thinkin' how long it's gonna be. Whyn't you do that? Jus' take ever'day." (10.9)
Ma Joad has to learn how to think like a prisoner in order to cope with life. Going to prison has taught Tom some valuable life lessons.