How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Right now I'm nothing, but if I can swing this, then maybe I can get Juliana back. I know what she wants—she deserves to be married to a man who matters, an important person in the community, not some meshuggener. Men used to be men, in the old days; before the war for instance. But all that's gone now. (4.82)
We've previously noted that "Frank" isn't exactly a self-starter. He's not the kind of guy who comes up with a plan for a new business (see "Themes: Strength and Skill"). But there is one thing that motivates him and that's the thought of Juliana. Notice how his idea of getting her back (by becoming important) is tied up with some wackadoo historical idea that "Men used to be men." Ugh. This might be a hint that he's not thinking about Juliana correctly.
Quote #2
"According to this Abelson," Wyndam-Matson broke in. He glanced at the girl beside him. God, they read a book, he thought, and they spout on forever. (5.57)
Wyndam-Matson may be on a date with one of the smarter characters in this book. After all, Rita has a whole (mostly correct) idea of how history should go. And yet this guy isn't really interested in her mind or her ideas. Note also how he makes a huge generalization about how "they spout on forever." This may be W-M's POV, but he comes off worse than Rita does.
Quote #3
I wish I had never let him come with me, she thought. And now it's too late; I know I can't get rid of him—he's too strong.
Something terrible is happening, she thought. Coming out of him. And I seem to be helping it. (6.127-8)
We spend more time with Juliana than with any other female character, so we have to be careful when we read about her. Is this a comment about the relation between men and women in general? Or is this just a comment about Juliana and Joe in particular? So here, Juliana sees something bad happening with Joe and takes some blame for it with that final "I seem to be helping it." Is this because Juliana blames herself first? Or because women learn to blame themselves first in this 1960s?