How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
The truth is, Goldman went on quickly, women may not vote, they may not love whom they want, they may not develop their minds and their spirits, they may not commit their lives to the spiritual adventure of life, comrades, they may not. And why? Is our genius only in our wombs? (8.2)
Doctorow has a talent for finding characters to state the truth of a situation, and Emma Goldman is perfect here for defining a woman's role at the beginning of the 20th century, when women were thought by many men to be good for raising babies and not much more.
Quote #5
After all, Goldman went on, you're nothing but a clever prostitute. You accepted the conditions in which you found yourself and you triumphed. But what kind of victory has it been? [...] I have never taken a man to bed without loving him, without taking him in love as a free human being, his equal... (8.5)
Goldman is talking about equality here, the fact that when marriage is an exchange of money for servitude it's no different than being a prostitute. It is more important to her to be free—and equal.
Quote #6
Goldman stood and turned her around slowly for inspection, a frown on her face. Look at that, it's amazing you have any circulation at all. Marks of the stays ran vertically like welts around Nesbit's waist. the evidence of garters could be seen in the red lines running around the tops her thighs. Women kill themselves, Goldman said. (8.10)
In a man's world, women dressed to please men and accentuate their figure. Goldman herself wears free flowing clothes, and in this scene berates Evelyn for the corset and other undergarments she wears. Funny how in some ways things haven't changed. Or have you ever walked a mile in high heels?