How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"But they are different, and now that they have farms of their own I do not see so much of them. We divided the land equally when Lou married. They have their own way of doing things, and they do not altogether like my way, I am afraid. Perhaps they think me too independent. But I have had to think for myself a good many years and am not likely to change." (2.4.10)
Alexandra becomes isolated—literally and figuratively—within her own family. She might not be an outcast like Ivar, but we definitely can understand why she sympathizes with him so much.
Quote #8
Carl shook his head mournfully. "Freedom so often means that one isn't needed anywhere. Here you are an individual, you have a background of your own, you would be missed. But off there in the cities there are thousands of rolling stones like me. We are all alike; we have no ties, we know nobody, we own nothing. When one of us dies, they scarcely know where to bury him." (2.4.23)
So, you think moving to a city will help with the frontier blues? Think again, Carl says. This is a Really Important passage in O Pioneers!: Carl implies that freedom is relative, and that independence from the communal life of the Divide doesn't necessarily liberate you to be yourself. In fact, it might just make you more miserable.
Quote #9
Alexandra sighed. "I had hoped you might understand, a little, why I do want to. But I suppose that's too much to expect. I've had a pretty lonely life, Emil. Besides Marie, Carl is the only friend I have ever had." (2.11.22)
We don't often have the sense that Alexandra is a lonely person. But passages like this one plainly let us know how she's feeling. Could all her hard work and determination be helping her to numb the pain of isolation? Maybehaps.