How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"No fancy deals here," Mr. Patimkin shouted. "We all go to lunch at once." (6.247)
On the first day of the job, Ron values the store being continually manned over the workers going to enjoy lunch at the same time. Mr. Patimkin thinks that being open that extra hour isn't worth the loss of morale. What do you think?
Quote #8
"Neil, I shouldn't have called Margaret Sanger—it's not right."
"It is, Brenda. It's the most right thing you can do." (6.286-6.287)
On an analytical level, it's confusing that Brenda doesn't seem to feel that sex before marriage is wrong, but feels that getting a birth control device from a doctor is. When one considers the social stigma surrounding birth control, especially for unmarried women in the 1950s, we understand some of Brenda's moral confusion. Click here for a timeline that might put things in perspective.
Quote #9
[From Mrs. Patimkin's letter] "I wonder if you know what I mean, if it is at least on your conscience, so I won't have to degrade either of us with a description." (8.141)
We think Mrs. Patimkin is upset about Brenda and Neil having sex before marriage rather than objecting specifically to the diaphragm or to birth control. The debate over whether or not sex before marriage is morally wrong is common to many religions and time periods. Here in the 2010s it's still going strong.