How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[Melliphant] enjoyed picking on Tom, who was small and shy and had no friends to stick up for him. (1.23)
Poor no-friends Tom. This can account for a lot of things, like his hero complex. Perhaps by saving the day, he can impress someone into being his friend...
Quote #2
[Hester] tried to smile. It was the first time [Tom] had seen her smile: an ugly, crooked thing, but very welcome; it made him feel that she was starting to like him and didn't just regard him as an annoyance. (8.34)
Okay, this is a complicated sentence—just like Hester, who is a complicated person. Tom? He's kind of like a puppy (a puppy who criticizes others' appearances). He wants to find a friend and be loved. Hester? Friendship is hard for her. She has to "try" to smile just like she has to "try" to find friends. Why is this so difficult for her to do?
Quote #3
"Even if Valentine has sent someone after you, you are among friends." (12.14)
This might be the first time Tom has found a friend. Heck, it might even be the first time the word has been used in the book. Still, Tom rejects Anna Fang's friendship because he believes her to be a political traitor. Should ideological differences come between friends?