How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #7
Elisa stood […] watching the slow progress of the caravan. […] Then she whispered, "That's a bright direction. There's a glowing there." (92)
Elisa's been left behind. We can't help but admire her hopefulness in this moment. Who hasn't looked down the road and with a sense of wonder? But this moment is made all the more sorrowful when Elisa finally does hit the road with her husband. Finding out that her chrysanthemums were unceremoniously thrown away can't have been the experience she was looking for.
Quote #8
"Nice? You think I look nice? What do you mean by 'nice'?" (100)
Helpless, hapless Henry has just tried to pay Elisa a compliment. But she's dissatisfied with his word choice. As Henry struggles to explain himself, it's worthwhile to think back to another time in the story when a character struggles to explain herself, and seems dissatisfied with her own words. We're talking, of course, about Elisa's explanation of how to pick chrysanthemum buds. Is there any more frustrating feeling in the world than not being able to express yourself?
Quote #9
She said loudly, to be heard above the motor, "It will be good, tonight, a good dinner." (112)
This is the second time Elisa has repeated that dinner will be "good," and frankly a good dinner doesn't seem all that exciting. Here, and in her earlier use of this word in paragraph 19, is she trying to reassure herself that a night out on the town will be enough to placate her restlessness for the time being? Or is she just looking forward to the steak?