How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"If his three hundred thousand went back into the town, where it belongs, they could burn up these shacks, and build a dream-village, a jewel! Why do the farmers and the town-people let the baron keep it?" (3.2.22)
Carol can't understand why there hasn't been some sort of workers' revolution in Gopher Prairie. After all, how can the farmers stand to do all the work while the property owners do nothing and still get rich?
Quote #2
"I don't mind dealing with my men if they think they've got any grievances—though Lord knows what's come over workmen, nowadays—don't appreciate a good job." (4.4.102)
The upper-class landowners of Gopher Prairie like to talk about how they're straight with their workers. But whenever a worker brings a problem to them, their usual response is to talk about how nobody knows how to work nowadays—which is convenient, since you could say that about nearly anyone.
Quote #3
"All this profit-sharing and welfare work and insurance and old-age pension is simply poppycock. Enfeebles a workman's independence—and wastes a lot of honest profit." (4.4.106)
The landowners of Gopher Prairie hate all these new ideas about giving workers an old-age pension and unemployment insurance. In their minds, workers should have to take care of themselves if something goes wrong.