How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
Her father said the Indian had constructed the coil in the Serpent's tail in order to give the living a sensation similar to that of dying. (1.6.37)
Well, that explains it. Although she's not particularly religious, Meridian discovers that she's quite spiritual. This experience connects her to a past that is long dead and gone, just as her father does when he pores over maps of ancient Native American settlements.
Quote #5
She dreamed she was a character in a novel and that her existence presented an insoluble problem, one that would be solved only by her death at the end. (1.15.1)
This concept becomes a running theme in the novel. In Meridian's time, it felt like all of the greatest and most noble leaders ended up dead at the hands of evil men. Although Meridian wants to fight for her people, she isn't eager to follow them to such a bitter end. Can you blame her?
Quote #6
"The only new thing now," she had said to herself [...] "would be the refusal of Christ to accept crucifixion. King [...] should have refused. Malcolm, too, should have refused." (2.19.73)
Meridian isn't too fond of the idea of martyrdom. Here, she draws a connection between the political leaders of her day and Jesus himself, emphasizing the fact that all of these people could have done so much good had they been allowed to live. Meridian sees a similar fate for herself and isn't looking forward to it. But what if there were some way to break the cycle?