How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
He is certain that as a consequence of his sin Janice or the baby will die. (12.20)
Here we get at perhaps the extremes of Rabbit’s fear. If this held true for every man that leaves his wife, we’d be living in a far less populated world. How does this fear comment on the society in which Rabbit was raised?
Quote #8
The noise [of Rebecca June crying] spreads fear through the apartment. (16.1)
Well, that hasn’t changed since 1959, but hopefully we are more equipped to deal with it now. Though one point of the section is that, even when we know what we could do to make things better (like take a walk), we let something stand in the way (like sex).
Quote #9
Again and again she comes up to the sound of him saying Roll over and can’t squeeze through it, can’t not feel panicked and choked. (17.10)
A nice example of how the mind won’t let us let go of the things that bother us until they are resolved. In this case, a discussion with Rabbit about Janice’s, dare I say it, feelings was in order. Part of the problem is that they could not talk about the things that bothered them in a productive way.