How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"She could sell off a kidney. Maybe tap out a couple pints of blood for the Harvesters. They're always buying."
"Sure. She's got those pretty eyes," Pearly said. "Harvesters would take those in a second." (5.92-93)
One of the first times we see humanity monetized is when Sloth betrays Nailer and gets kicked off of light crew. Sloth has the option of selling parts of herself to survive; her whole person isn't valued, but pieces of her are. It's kind of a hint of what is to come.
Quote #2
"Maybe Sloth was an oath breaker, but she was smart enough to know you don't deserve things, you gotta take them."
"I don't buy that." Pearly shook his head. "What have you got without your promises? You're nothing. Less than nothing." (5.109-110)
It's inevitable that after Sloth's betrayal, the rest of the crew talks about why she did it, and if they would do the same. And even though they're ship rats, they understand the intricacies of morality—what's right and wrong and what makes a person moral.
Quote #3
He'd been so desperate to get Sloth to care.
But he hadn't been able to find the lever. Or maybe the lever hadn't been there after all. Some people couldn't see any farther than themselves. People like Sloth.
People like his dad. (9.40-42)
Nailer was searching for a lever that would cause Sloth to feel empathy for him, for her to care. Do you think that Nailer's dad and Sloth are capable of empathy? Why or why not? And what was Sloth's motivation for leaving Nailer behind?