How we cite our quotes: (Chapter, Paragraph)
Quote #1
And when you walk by the Mayor's House, you can hear him, hear him and the men closest to him, his deputies and things, and they're always doing these thought exercises, these counting things and imagining perfect shapes and saying orderly chants like I AM THE CIRCLE AND THE CIRCLE IS ME. (2.52)
There's good order, and then there's bad order—the kind that squashes people under a political system. The mayor has this bad kind of order brewing in Prentisstown. He stages these repetition exercises to pretty much brainwashing people into letting him have total control. Scary.
Quote #2
"Now," Hildy says when we're all done. "Apologize to each other."
"What?" Viola says. "Why?"
"I don't see how this is any of yer business," I say.
"Never go to sleep on an argument," Hildy says, hands on hips, looking like she ain't never gonna budge and would be pleased to see someone try and make her. "Not if ye want to stay friends." (16.53-56)
Simple rules to live by. Hildy tries to make Todd and Viola see that fighting and holding a grudge is the beginning of all discord and chaos, so they need to get into the practice of resolving these arguments and moving on. She's also making it her business to help keep order and peace—which Todd doesn't understand. After all, he comes from a place without harmony.
Quote #3
"So do most people," Hildy says. "Even when yer used to it, it's nice to only have the Noise of yer most beloved a-hanging round yer house. Town gets a bit rackety." (17.88)
Here's a stroke of genius. Other people in the New World have found a way to keep order in the midst of their worst enemy, a.k.a. Noise. The answer? Personal space. Hildy's people discipline themselves to control Noise, which is usually the source of unrest and anger.