How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"I don't want loose women in my family," he had cautioned all his daughters. Warnings were delivered communally, for even though there was usually the offending daughter of the moment, every woman's character could use extra scolding. (1.2.13)
It's almost like Papi expects his daughters to do things he thinks are bad. Papi thinks he needs to scold his daughters and watch their every move, just to keep them from behaving totally immorally. Because women don't have a moral code, obvs.
Quote #5
Every year after that, the daughter came for her father's birthday, and in the way of women, soothed and stitched and patched over the hurt feelings. (1.2.32)
So here's another generalization about women, this time from the narrator's perspective. It's a flattering statement—that women are naturally good at reconciling after a big fight—but we have to wonder: is it really fair to make broad generalizations about the "way of women"?
Quote #6
Carlos, looking very much like a little girl in his long, white christening gown, bawled the whole time, and his poor mother had not a moment's peace between serving the dinner she'd prepared for the whole family and giving him his. (1.2.35)
It's funny how big of a deal it is to Papi to finally have a male heir in the family. And yet, in his little baptisimal gown, little baby Carlos looks... just like a baby girl. So doesn't it seem rather silly to go around projecting all of these masculine traits onto him?