Quote 4
And then she spoke quietly about Ted’s future, his need to concentrate on his medical studies, why it would be years before he could even think about marriage. She assured me she had nothing whatsoever against minorities; she and her husband, who owned a chain of office-supply stores, personally knew many fine people who were Oriental, Spanish, and even black. But Ted was going to be in one of those professions where he would be judged by a different standard, by patients and other doctors who might not be as understanding as the Jordans were. She said it was so unfortunate the way the rest of the world was, how unpopular the Vietnam War was. (II.3.14)
To Ted’s mom, Rose is foreign – not an American like Mrs. Jordan’s son – and her foreignness could give Ted a bad reputation. This is the most overt instance of racism in the book, most notable for its mention of the war in Vietnam.
Quote 5
I know now that I will never find a way to save my marriage. My mother tells me, though, that I should still try.
"What’s the point?" I say. "There’s no hope. There’s no reason to keep trying."
"Because you must," she says. "This is not hope. Not reason. This is your fate. This is your life, what you must do." (II.3.97)
For An-mei, some things in life are simply "musts" – when your own future is on the line, you must act, even in the absence of hope.
Quote 6
The emotional effect of saving and being saved was addicting to both of us. And that, as much as anything we ever did in bed, was how we made love to each other: conjoined where my weaknesses needed protection. (II.3.19)
Rose and Ted’s relationship isn’t defined so much by their sex life as their emotional life, which plays itself out in a pattern: damsel in distress and strong savior.