How we cite our quotes: Cloud 9. Caryl Churchill. Routledge, 2000.
Quote #1
"I am a father to the natives here,/ And father to my family so dear." (1.1.14-15)
Clive is a white man, and as a white man, he's pretty certain that the rest of the world should do whatever he says. Luckily for us, Clive is also the biggest loser in this play by the time the action ends, because he's completely unwilling to adapt his views of gender to changing times.
Quote #2
"I live for Clive. The whole aim of my life/ Is to be what he looks for in a wife. / I am a man's creation as you see, / And what men want is what I want to be." (1.1.18-21)
When Betty first greets us, she tells us that her only purpose in life is to be whatever her husband Clive wants her to be. This is because Betty, like her husband, has some old fashioned ideas about how a wife should always do whatever her husband tells her.
Quote #3
"What father wants I'd dearly like to be. / I find it rather hard as you can see." (1.1.30-31)
Clive's son Edward isn't dealing with his gender very well. For starters, he's very effeminate and likes to play with dolls. Now there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, unless you've got a dad who's obsessed with making you into a manly man.