How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
She lived alone with her mother, who taught music at the Holcomb School. (1.52)
Mrs. Kidwell, as a single parent, had to work to support herself and Sue—her husband had abandoned her when Sue was very young. So she doesn't have any gender-role conflicts to deal with because of the necessity of earning a living.
Quote #5
Nancy's bedroom was […] girlish, and as frothy as a ballerina's tutu. […] the white and pink bed was dominated by a pink-and-white teddy bear—a shooting gallery prize that Bobby had won at a county fair. (1.210)
Nancy Clutter's a girly girl, but she has a feisty streak as well. She's a champion pie-maker and flower-arranger, but she can also run the household and haul a heavy wagon. How do people explain her competence, energy and determination? "She's like her father." Now, we just heard this same behavior described as "being a lady." Isn't there some middle ground here? Or maybe people were just comparing her to her mother.
Quote #6
"I don't remember screaming, but Nancy Ewalt said I did—screamed and screamed. (1.219)
Now, we all might do the same thing on seeing our best friend shot to pieces. But it's also true that most of the emotional displays in the book are reactions by women. Mrs. Dewey has her emotional dream about Bonnie. Mrs. Hickock breaks down and has to be led from the courtroom. Not that the men are any less horrified or frightened, they just deal with it more quietly. The only exception? Perry. He cries in his jail cell. As we know, Perry doesn't feel very masculine.