How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
[…] because if I was one hundred and two I'd have known what to say when Mrs. Price put the red sweater on my desk. I would've known how to tell her it wasn't mine instead of just sitting there with that look on my face and nothing coming out of my mouth. (5)
The story's first hint that passivity is linked with a lack of voice is provided in this quote. Notice: It's not that Rachel didn't know what to do or how to feel, but that she didn't know how to express it.
Quote #2
"Whose? It's been sitting in the coatroom for a month." "Not mine," says everybody. "Not me." (6-7)
Meanwhile, the other students have their voices, and every one denies ever having owned a jacket of such horrific ugliness. By speaking up they manage to avoid passively accepting the jacket.
Quote #3
Mrs. Price takes the sweater and puts it right on my desk, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out. (9)
Again, the problem isn't that Rachel doesn't know what to say. The story's narrative technique allows us to know her thoughts, and she knows what to say. The problem is her inability to vocalize those thoughts.