How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
The man kept this distance in front of the woman purposely, though perhaps unconsciously, for he wished to go on with his thoughts. (2)
The married man's wife and children accompany him in the garden, yet even as he is in their presence, he seems to seek isolation. Hey, we all need some alone time, right? He may appear to be with them from the outside, but is he really "with" them, or off somewhere on his own? How does his isolation affect his relationship with his wife?
Quote #2
He smiled to himself and again began to talk, as if the smile had been an answer. He was talking about spirits—the spirits of the dead, who, according to him, were even now telling him all sort of odd things about their experiences in Heaven. (11)
Well, the old man isn't completely isolated here, is he? The spirits of the dead must be excellent company…maybe…but that's just the problem—he's talking to dead spirits and not his living, breathing companion, William. The old man seems to be obsessed with human connection—he even talks about a contraption that will allow him to connect with the spirits—but he misses a chance at connection with the very person at his side.
Quote #3
He could be heard murmuring about forests of Uruguay blanketed with the wax petals of tropical roses, nightingales, sea beaches, mermaids, and women drowned at sea, as he suffered himself to be moved on my William, upon whose face the look of stoical patience grew slowly deeper and deeper. (14)
Is the old man talking to William here, or simply rehearsing his memories aloud? Is there even a difference? Either way, there's definitely not much conversation going on. The old man might as well be talking (or thinking) to himself; it's all kind of one big monologue. The further he recedes into memories of the past, the further he seems to grow from William.