How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
'Is it perhaps then because it's so bad—because your industry, as you call it, is so vulgar—that Mr. Chad won't come back? Does he feel that taint?' (2.1.78)
Maria Gostrey isn't so sure that Chad has left his family because of some evil woman. Instead, she wonders if Chad's embarrassed to be taking over a family business that makes…well, we never find that out—but whatever it is, it's something silly enough for Strether to avoid saying what it is. And maybe that can eve transcend family ties.
Quote #5
He thought it over and his gravity returned. 'Is it a refinement not to answer his mother's letters?' (2.1.177)
Sure, Strether learns to take Chad's side as the book unfolds. But let's not forget that at the beginning, Strether has drunk the Newsome family Kool-Aid. He's totally brainwashed into believing that Mrs. Newsome is the moral center of the universe and that her son is a good-for-nothing jerk for deserting her. Heck, he could send a tweet from time to time.
Quote #6
The mother's eagerness with which Madame de Vionnet jumped at this was to come back to him later as beautiful in its grace. 'The dear thing did please you?' Then as he met it with the largest 'Oh!' of enthusiasm: 'She's perfect. She's my joy.' (6.1.65)
Madame de Vionnet is a calm, controlled woman. But when it comes to gushing about her daughter Jeanne, she can't help herself. As far as she's concerned, Jeanne is the greatest human being in the whole world. Normally, you'd think this kind of motherly pride was fairly annoying. But coming from Madame, it's somewhat graceful. Plus, a much nicer view of what family ties can look like, in contrast to the spite-hurling Newsomes.