Surrender Versions of Reality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

The people who sympathized to her face whispered, when her back was turned, that she was rightly cursed. I never saw such falseness, such extremes of truth and lie, such coldness of the human heart as I did in those first seven years of my life, when Vernon was alive. (7.9)

Another form of multiplicity comes into play around Vernon. Gabriel's mom calls Vernon life's joy in public, but despises him secretly in private, so Gabriel quickly sees that how things seem and how they are often don't match up.

Quote #5

"You lit the fires as much as I did. You told me, go out and burn. Besides, we're reflections, blood brothers, remember? What I do, you do."

The cold wind had brought water to my eyes; I smeared them dry on my sleeve. I could smell, on the breeze, the earthen scent of him. "You remember that, don't you, Anwell?"

Something dangerous wafted from him—something not to be denied. "Yes, I remember." (9.89-91)

Here we begin to question who, exactly, is to blame for the fires and troubles all around town. For a long time, we're fine placing that squarely on Finnigan's shoulders, but this gives us reason to believe that's not fair. We don't yet know Gabriel and Finnigan are the same person, but we do begin to see that their actions are bound by the pact.

Quote #6

Across the garden stands the fence where years ago I carved my name. The angel treated the scratchings like a holy relic. His only proof of me. I was so often tempted to scrub the letters off. After a while, the weather did it for me. Now there's no word, no name, no proof, just the fence. (14.2)

Without proof, Gabriel isn't sure Finnigan exists. His only so-called proof is a scratched name in a fence that anyone could make. Even in questioning reality, though, Gabriel seems pretty willing to believe in Finnigan's existence and version of events.