How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
After a few moments, Mama raised her head. "One of the things you will someday learn, daughters," she said to me, "is that parents are never sure if certain decisions we make concerning our children are right." (15.76)
Mama English knows that her hubby is about to be arrested, so they've made plans for the future. She sounds pretty confident, but that doesn't mean she's not a little nervous, too—after all, she can't predict her family's future. What do you think about Mama E's uncertainty here? How do you think her honesty affects her kiddos?
Quote #8
I was most pleased, of course, to discover that my original impressions of Joseph Putnam had been correct. He was not only a mixture of sober strength and boyish eagerness, but he was gentle with his wife and baby, caring of his neighbors, and quick to enjoy a good joke. He behaved toward us in the manner of an older brother. Elizabeth, meanwhile, took the role of older sister, glad to have two females about who were not servants and in whom she could confide her secret joys and fears. (16.8)
Looks like blood isn't the only thing that makes families in this book. When Susanna and Mary go to live with Joseph and Elizabeth Putnam, they're super sad not to be with their parents, but the Putnams become a new big bro and big sis to these girls, which is pretty cool. And since Susanna's big bro William has been gone for a long time, we're thinking she's especially stoked to have a new brotherly figure in her life.
Quote #9
I ran. I saw recognition come upon William's face. The pipe came out of his mouth. The eyes, so accustomed to searching the sea's horizon for pirate ships, squinted in the bright sun. "Susanna?" he asked. "Is it you?"
"Oh, William!" And I ran to him. He set down his bags and swooped me up in his strong arms. (23.106-107)
Susanna has waited forever for her big bro to come home, so when he gets back to Salem, you can bet that she's excited as all get-out. It's pretty interesting that this bro and sis haven't talked in forever—unfortunately there were no cell phones back in the day, so William couldn't text Susanna from the ship to say what's up or send a selfie—which means they haven't had one-on-one communication for ages. And there's no way for them to know what the other looks like now that they've both grown up. What do you think of this reunion?