How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"I promise you nothing," I said. "Why should I? I've got you with your pants down. Talk to me or Noonan. And make up your mind quick. I'm not going to stand here all night." (14.53)
In this exchange, the Op accuses MacSwain of being the real murderer of Tim Noonan. We have yet another battle of testosterones here as MacSwain tries to avoid the Op's questioning, and the Op won't let up on his bullying. Eventually the Op beats the truth out of MacSwain (figuratively speaking, of course).
Quote #5
"I've got to have a wedge that can be put between Pete and Yard, Yard and Noonan, Pete and Noonan, Pete and Thaler, or Yard and Thaler. If we can smash things up enough – break the combination – they'll have their knives at each other's backs, doing our work for us. The break between Thaler and Noonan is a starter. But it'll sag on us if we don't help it along." (15.29)
Red Harvest is a man's world if ever there was one. The whole city is controlled by competing male gangsters, and the Op is counting on their male competitiveness to lead them into a gang warfare. Do you think the Op's method of testing the characters' masculinity is morally acceptable?
Quote #6
She pouted and said: "You think you know everything. You're just hard to get along with." (16.63)
Dinah has to hold her own ground in a world full of tough guys, and we think she does a pretty good job of it. She's not afraid to call the Op out when he's being macho for no good reason. And maybe her bluntness is why the Op finds himself spending more and more time with her.