How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
SAM. You should be grateful. That is why you started passing your exams. You tried to be better than me. (670-671)
A little friendly competition can actually be good for a person's grades, it turns out. Sam thinks that Hally started doing well in school when he started teaching Sam because he wanted to be better than him. His desire to beat Sam translated into better grades. Why do you think he felt competitive toward Sam?
Quote #5
WILLIE. You and Sam cheated [at chess].
HALLY. I never saw Sam cheat, and mine were mostly the mistakes of youth.
WILLIE. Then how is it you two was always winning?
HALLY. Have you ever considered the possibility, Willie, that it was because we were better than you? (782-787)
Poor Willie. While Sam comes across as a pretty sharp character, Willie's not exactly the brightest crayon in the box. His attitude toward competition is that if he loses it must be unfair or rigged. He isn't willing to face the fact that differences in ability might actually influence the outcome of a competition.
Quote #6
HALLY. [. . .] There were occasions when we deliberately let you win a game so that you would stop sulking and go on playing with us. Sam used to wink at me when you weren't looking to show me it was time to let you win.
WILLIE. So then you two didn't play fair.
HALLY. It was for your benefit, Mr. Malopo, which is more than being fair. (789-796)
Do you have any older relatives that either let you win or mercilessly beat you at games or sports when you were a kid? Did it teach you a lesson about winning, losing, or sportsmanship? Did it seem fair?