Find the perfect quote to float your boat. Shmoop breaks down key quotations from Kindred.
Violence Quotes
I closed my eyes again remembering the way I had been hurt—remembering the pain. (Prologue.20)
Race Quotes
"A patroller is […] was a white man, usually young, often poor, sometimes drunk. He was a member of a group of such men organized to keep the blacks in line." (2.6.5)
Slavery Quotes
Patrollers made sure the slaves were where they were supposed to be at night, and they punished those who weren't. (2.6.7)
Gender Quotes
"I never thought you'd be fool enough to let a man beat you." (4.2.41)
Family Quotes
"I burned the stable once […] I wanted Daddy to give me Nero—a horse I liked […] Daddy already has a lot of money. Anyway, I got mad and burned down the stable." (2.2.99)
Marriage Quotes
Alice Greenwood. How would she marry this boy? Or would it be marriage. And why hadn't someone in my family mentioned that Rufus was white? (2.2.147)
Education Quotes
"[Weylin] was pretty sure you could read and write. That's one reason he seemed so suspicious and mistrustful. Educated slaves aren't popular around here." (3.4.84)
Power Quotes
"You want her to read to you? […] Then you got something to say to me." (3.8.11)