How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Now, boy, give me those wings of yours. I am very interested in contraptions. Take 'em off now! Now!" Snatcher ordered. (4.25)
Snatcher is so into technology that he will rob a young boy of his high-tech wings. Seriously, Snatcher corners Arthur with his pack of barking, vicious cheese hounds in an alley. How is that not shady? It's like, we get it, Snatcher has a thing for scientific inventions… but how he goes about getting them is so not ethical.
Quote #2
"They are the very scum of the mechanical world. Technical vultures! They hit a man when he's down, and by the time he recovers, they have either made off with his invention or have him so tied up in contracts that he either has to buy them off or hand the whole thing over to them." (14.43)
Willbury has some pretty strong feelings about patents and people who try to steal them. In this little rant to Arthur as they approach the Patent Hall, he disses the Failed Patent Acquisition Officers who prey on vulnerable inventors. We bet Snatcher, with his shady ethical stance toward inventions, would get along great with these guys.
Quote #3
"It sounds as if some of the caves are starting to crumble. I don't know what those blasted boxtrolls think they are playing at. They are supposed to keep this place dry and shored up." (25.20)
Grandfather vents to Arthur about the state of the Underworld; apparently it is very wet. The boxtrolls, who are mechanical geniuses as well as kleptomaniacs, are supposedly in charge of keeping the underground tunnels maintained… But where are the boxtrolls and why are they not doing their job? Turns out Snatcher's evil plans (which involve technology) have a pretty big impact on the infrastructure of Ratbridge.