How we cite our quotes: (Book.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Below the picture of Ana María was a blurry photo of a group of men in mismatched military garb, walking through dense jungle. Next to the photo was a frown button that said "We denounce the Central Guatemalan Security Forces." Mae hesitated briefly, knowing the gravity of what she was about to do—to come out against these rapists and murderers—but she needed to make a stand. She pushed the button. (1.38.12)
In The Circle, Dave Eggers suggests that Mae Holland overestimates the influence that her web activities have in the world. Mae doesn't feel isolated from the violence in Guatemala; she believes that she's playing an active role in bringing it to a halt. What does The Circle seem to think about that?
Quote #8
After Tania's petition Mae sat for a moment, feeling very alert, very aware of herself, knowing that not only had she possibly made a group of powerful enemies in Guatemala, but that untold thousands of SeeChange watchers were seeing her doing it. It gave her layers of self-awareness and a distinct sense of the power she could wield in her position. (1.38.13)
This is one of the most scathingly satirical passages in The Circle. The novel's tone makes it clear that Mae Holland has a very overinflated sense of her own importance if she really believes that she's made herself powerful enemies simply by sending a "frown." Although Mae doesn't feel isolated at all in this scene, the novel makes it clear that she's very far removed from the place where she thinks she's making a difference.
Quote #9
She sat up in bed, knowing that it usually took her an hour or so to make her way to sleep. She turned on the wallscreen, planning to check on her parents. But their SeeChange cameras were all dark. She sent them a zing, expecting no answer and getting none. She sent a message to Annie but got no response. She paged through her Zing feed, reading a few funny ones, and, because she'd lost six pounds since going transparent, she spent twenty minutes looking for a new skirt and T-shirt, and somewhere in the eight site she visited, she felt the tear opening up in her again. (2.3.5)
This is one of the scenes in The Circle when Mae Holland's feelings of loneliness and isolation come upon her in full force. Although Mae is now living "transparently," in constant connection with millions of viewers worldwide, she can't reach out and contact the most important people in her life.