How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"You hev hedged Ma's question, Cousin Wilse. What about the right and wrong of one man ownin' the body—and sometimes it looks as if the soul, too—of another man?" (2.17)
The question is rooted in the heart of slavery and John is not afraid to make Wilse answer it. Slavery supporters were iffy on calling slaves men, so John makes his stance crystal clear when indicating that an enslaved person is equal in their humanity to a slave-owner.
Quote #2
He wanted to weep, but one endured a lot before he disgraced himself in that way. (2.28)
Jethro Creighton is definitely on the boys-don't-cry wavelength. But he doesn't just think crying isn't manly—he thinks it's disgraceful. Yikes.
Quote #3
It had been customary in years past for the schoolmaster to room and board with first one family and then another throughout the district, but young Yale had protested against the lack of privacy, and Matthew Creighton had been sympathetic.
"A man has the right to the dignity of his own fireside after a day's work," he said. (4.55-56)
This seems more along the lines of right to privacy but we'll go along with Matt and dignity. We can understand wanting to be in the comfort of one's own home after a long day of molding the minds of young Americans. And good guy Matt Creighton is right there siding with Shad.