How we cite our quotes: (Name of Play, Act #)
Quote #4
LAVINIA: What was that Marie Brantôme like, Seth?
SETH--Marie? She was always laughin' and singin'--frisky and full of life--with something free and wild about her like an animile. Purty she was, too! Hair just the color of your Maw's and yourn she had.
LAVINIA: I know.
SETH: Oh, everyone took to Marie--couldn't help it. Even your Paw. He was only a boy then, but he was crazy about her, too, like a youngster would be. His mother was stern with him, while Marie, she made a fuss over him and petted him.
LAVINIA: Father, too!
SETH: Ayeh--but he hated her worse than anyone when it got found out she was his Uncle David's fancy woman.
LAVINIA: It's all so strange! It frightens me! I don't believe that about Father. You've had too much whiskey. Go to bed and sleep it off. (Homecoming, Act 3)
Look how much our genius playwright packs into this conversation. We get some insight into Brant's Oedipal sexual attraction to Christine, who's the image of his mother. We learn about Marie's pretty healthy attitudes about sex and Seth's appreciation of it. We see Ezra's youthful enjoyment of Marie's affectionate fussing over him and Lavinia's disgust at the very thought of everything.
Quote #5
CHRISTINE: What are you moongazing at? Puritan maidens shouldn't peer too inquisitively into Spring! Isn't beauty an abomination and love a vile thing? Why don't you marry Peter? You don't want to be left an old maid, do you?
LAVINIA: You needn't hope to get rid of me that way. I'm not marrying anyone. I've got my duty to Father. (Homecoming, Act 3)
The Electra complex in action. Christine seems to have some insight about her daughter's uptightness about sex and she thinks it's laughable. She's totally aware of Lavinia's unhealthy attachment to her father.
Quote #6
MANNON: […] You are waiting for something!
CHRISTINE: What would I be waiting for?
MANNON: For death—to set you free!
CHRISTINE: Leave me alone! Stop nagging at me with your crazy suspicions! […] You acted as if I were your wife, your property, not so long ago!
MANNON: Your body? What are bodies to me? I've seen too many rotting in the sun to make the grass greener! Ashes to ashes, dirt to dirt! Is that your notion of love? Do you think I married a body? You were lying to me tonight as you've always lied! You were only pretending love! You let me take you as if you were a n***** slave I'd bought at auction! You made me appear a lustful beast in my own eyes!--as you've always done since our first marriage night! I would feel cleaner now if I had gone to a brothel! I would feel more honor between myself and life!
CHRISTINE: Look out, Ezra! I won't stand--
MANNON: And I had hoped my homecoming would mark a new beginning--new love between us! I told you my secret feelings. I tore my insides out for you--thinking you'd understand! By God, I'm an old fool!
CHRISTINE: Did you think you could make me weak--make me forget all the years? Oh no, Ezra! It's too late! You want the truth? You've guessed it! You've used me, you've given me children, but I've never once been yours! I never could be! And whose fault is it? I loved you when I married you! I wanted to give myself! But you made me so I couldn't give! You filled me with disgust! (Homecoming, Act 4)
Christine and Ezra both show disgust here for the nasty physical business of sex when it's stripped of love or meaning. Christine's felt like a sex object because Ezra never showed her tenderness. Ezra's finally realizing that just possessing someone's body is meaningless and degrading. Nothing's more disgusting than being used for sex, and they both feel the other's been doing it. Ezra hates Christine for having had sex the night before without really wanting it because it makes him feel dirty. There was finally real feeling on his part, and she's just faking it. Yuck.