How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"If I'd wanted a yellow husband I'd have married a Chinaman."
"What's a Chinaman?" Joe asked.
"Go get a bucket of water," Elmira said. (27.23-27.25)
This bit of apparently casual racism shows just how rural some people were back then. Elmira knows what a "Chinaman" is because she used to live in a bigger city, but her son has never left Fort Smith, Arkansas. He probably couldn't even find China on a map.
Quote #5
The fall convinced him he had lived long enough with Americans. They were not his compañeros. Most of his compañeros were dead, but his country wasn't dead, and in his village there were a few men who liked to talk about the old days when they had spent all their time stealing Texas cattle. (41.35)
Bolivar is conflicted because he has lived for many years as a Mexican man with white cowboys—white cowboys who steal from Mexicans. He's caught between worlds and has no idea what to do.
Quote #6
The fact that the Indians were laughing and seemed friendly made it difficult. How could you shoot people who were laughing? (67.118)
Some men would shoot any "Indian" simply because they're Indian. Newt was raised in that type of world, so this little scene is a learning experience for him. Indians are people, too, he realizes.