Society and Class Quotes in We Need to Talk About Kevin

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

A few white kids, middle-class kids, protected, private-telephone-line, own-their-own-TV suburban kids go ballistic, and suddenly it's a national emergency. (20.121)

This is another critique of American society. Eva observes that gang violence is something that is often ignored in the media, but white middle-class kids shoot people, and it's on every channel. Why is this? Is it because they're white? Middle-class? Both? Or is it something else? Is there something actually different about this kind of violence?

Quote #5

"Throughout my life I was ridiculed. Always beaten, always hated. Can you, society, blame me for what I do?" And I thought, Yes, you little s***! In a heartbeat! (21.14)

Despite her motherhood victim mentality at times, Eva feels no sympathy for the teen shooters who commit their crimes, even though they, too, are shunned by society. Are they and Eva different in their marginalization? Why doesn't she see the similarities?

Quote #6

"Far as I can tell, he comes from a good family." (Good, of course, meaning rich.) (21.39)

Eva deconstructs here what a "good family" is in American society, so we don't have to. Thanks, Eva.