How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
(WILLIE lets fly with his slop rag. It misses SAM and hits HALLY)
HALLY. (Furious) For Christ's sake, Willie! What the hell do you think you're doing!
WILLIE. Sorry, Master Hally, but it's him….
HALLY. Act your bloody age! (Hurls the rag back at WILLIE) (309-315)
When Willie throws the slop rag at Sam you could see it as somewhere between a practical joke and an actual expression of frustration; he's not digging all Sam's ribbing. But when Hally throws it back, it's truly violent. He uses the rag to express his rage, and to show Willie he's the boss.
Quote #5
SAM. They make you lie down on a bench. One policeman pulls down your trousers and holds your ankles, another one pulls your shirt over your head and holds your arms…
HALLY. Thank you! That's enough.
SAM. …and the one that gives you the strokes talks to you gently and for a long time between each one. (He laughs) (374-381)
Sam's description of police violence is presented as comedic; he laughs as he tells about the torture he's experienced. Hally's reaction is to stop listening—he'd rather not know about what goes on during interrogations. The racial aspect of this violence makes it possible for Hally to ignore it – he won't ever have to experience what Sam, a black man, does. Why do you think Sam is laughing?
Quote #6
HALLY. I've heard enough, Sam! Jesus! It's a bloody awful world when you come to think of it. People can be real bastards.
SAM. That's the way it is, Hally.
HALLY. It doesn't have to be that way. There is something called progress, you know. We don't exactly burn people at the stake anymore. (382-388)
Hally believes that humanity is less violent because the methods of suppressing one another have changed. Rather than burning someone at the stake, we now have beatings and torture. We're not exactly sure if we'd call that progress, but Hally seems to gain some hope from it.