How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He was silent, conceding to her once more; she was so much quicker with words than he. They said good night; each pretended to sleep, and lay, breathing deeply to delude the other, eyes aching through the darkness, watching. (1.15)
Jacob and Esther show their emotional distance when they argue about sending Deborah away to the mental hospital. They retreat inside of themselves and don't really connect—it seems too hard and painful to do that. And they wonder where Deborah gets it from...
Quote #2
He, too, loved his daughters, though he had never told them so; he, too, had wished confidences but was never able to open his own heart; and, because of this, they had also been kept from venturing their secrets. His oldest daughter had just parted from him, almost eagerly, in that grim place of locks and bars, turning away from his kiss, stepping back. (1.27)
Yikes. Talk about feeling isolated from your own parents. This is painful: never once did Jacob tell his daughters he loved them. And he wonders why Deborah's a little messed up? Kids need love, Dad.
Quote #3
Their freedom to say what they really wanted to say was even more circumscribed than before. (2.9).
Jacob and Esther are both hurting after dropping Deborah off at the hospital. Now that they're alone, they should be able to express how they feel, but here, we see that they both feel that can't really talk about what's going on with them. There's no communication here; their isolation from each other runs deep. Each fears what the other will think of his or her vulnerability or emotion.