How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"I feel it is important for me, as the leader of our group, to watch out for you. Now, listen to me. It is better for you to stay away, so that you don't become tainted by their ways. They are corrupting you. Already you walk with their swagger. You are forgetting your manners and addressing all of us as your equals. You neglect to bow. Just now—you did not acknowledge me. You don't even bow to the captain of this ship!" (2.5.35)
Denzo's speaking to Manjiro, so we know there just has to be trouble. But doesn't it seem that Denzo's trying to power-trip all over Manjiro?
Quote #5
"We are just humble fishermen. Only big important people—the shogun, the daimyo, maybe this captain—they can do great things."
"That's what I used to think, too…." (2.8.33-34)
Goemon's all about sticking up for the old Japanese ways, even if it means that he—as a fisherman—gets the short end of the stick. But Manjiro's not down with all of that. What he goes on to suggest to Goemon is nothing short of a class revolution, even if Manjiro isn't thinking or speaking in such dramatic terms. He is advocating some dangerous thoughts for Goemon, though, so it's no wonder Goemon's scared that Manjiro's already lost his way. Upending the status quo is often an unpopular thing to do.
Quote #6
"Why would he do a kindness to me?" Manjiro asked.
"Why shouldn't he?"
"Because I am just a boy and he is a grown person. I am a poor nobody and he is a rich important person."
"And why can't a rich man be kind to a poor 'nobody'?" (3.15.31-34)
Captain Whitfield is referring to a common principle of helping a fellow man. This principle can only work if based on two contradictory ideas, though. First, Captain Whitfield is showing the impulse toward a classless society, where poor and rich shouldn't have such a huge social division. However, the dialogue also shows how class division has to exist in order for the principle of common goodness to exist. How can there be a principle of being good to the common or fellow man if there wasn't an unfair situation that requires the need for principle to exist in the first place?