How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"British built this jail, in the time of Raj," he hissed at me, showing teeth. "They did chain Indian men here, whip them here, hang them here, until dead. Now we run the jail, and you are a British prisoner." (3.20.49)
The Indian prison guards are going to take revenge for all of British colonial rule on poor Lin's back. This collective grudge, of all Indians against all British or English-speakers, comes from the mistreatment that the guard describes. But is it really fair to take revenge after the fact, on a new generation?
Quote #2
"No matter what they do," he whispered, "for the sake of your life, don't do anything to them in return. This is not a living place, Lin. We are all dead men here. You can't do anything!" (3.20.69)
Lin's prison buddy is trying to save his hide, by telling him never to defend himself or take revenge for the cruelty he receives. It's kind of interesting the way he winds down his advice though, with the idea that they're all dead men. It's as though the right to take revenge were one of the things that make us alive.
Quote #3
The frustration, dread, worry, and pain finally peaked when Big Rahul, the overseer who'd found in me a focus for the hatred and wretchedness he'd suffered in his twelve years at the prison, hit me one time too often. (3.21.42)
It's a never-ending chain of revenge. Big Rahul is a prisoner himself, but after twelve years has been promoted to overseer. He was mistreated during all that time, and so now he turns his rage on the prisoners under him. He can't take revenge on the guards or the system, so he takes it out on Lin, who then wants to get revenge… see where we're going?