How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"Tim, please," he said calmly as he could. "It's dangerous. You think that because you're only a child they won't hurt you, but they will. They've been killing children in this war. They don't care. They'll throw you in a prison ship and let you rot. You know what happens to people on those prison ships? They don't last very long. Cholera gets them or consumption or something else, and they die. Tim, it isn't worth it." (5.64)
Mr. Meeker makes it pretty stinkin' clear that he hates the war. And these prison ships do sound horrible. Keep an eye out for the couple of characters who end up dying on prison ships. Actually, maybe Mr. Meeker can see into the future, since the poor guy dies on a prison ship himself.
Quote #5
"Rebel and Tory live almost in open warfare with each other."
[…]
"I'm happy we haven't got to that point in Redding," Father said.
"You're fortunate. People have been tarred and feathered here, houses have been burned and livestock slaughtered. Both sides are doing it—one side burns a house and the other side retaliates. It won't be long before they're hanging people. I tell you it's true, Life." (8.6, 8-9)
Mr. Meeker and Mr. Platt are pretty concerned about the way the war is seeping into the towns. In New Salem, where the Platts live, everyone is getting involved in the violence. Check out the way Mr. Platt talks about the two "sides" in this war. Did you notice that he doesn't say which side does what? It sounds to us like both sides are so violent, you almost can't tell them apart.
Quote #6
Mother figured that once Sam realized that his own side had captured or maybe even killed his father he'd come home and help manage things. "He should be tired of playing soldier boy by now," Mother said. "I should think that glory would have worn off." (10.6)
Mrs. M thinks Sam's interest in the war is all about "glory." Does this jive with what we learn about Sam? Is he fighting in the war for glory? Or is it for something else?