How we cite our quotes: (Book.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"You're still so off-balance! I like that," Francis said.
"You like a woman who's off-balance."
"Especially in my presence. I want you on your toes, off-balance, intimidated, handcuffed, and willing to prostrate yourself at my command." (1.11.34-36)
Early on in her relationship with Francis Garaventa, Mae Holland gets some clear warning signs that this guy is far from being a catch. But, for whatever reason, she decides to let this comment slide. How does Mae's relationship with Francis give us early clues to the decisions that she's likely to make later on? How much of this is about gender, and how much of it is about the general power structure at the Circle?
Quote #5
"But you're the one that has to handle it? All of Washington?"
"They give me some of the government-hassle stuff because, I don't know, because they think my dimples help. Maybe they do. I don't know. I just wish there were five of me." (1.15.105-106)
How serious is Annie Allerton being in this passage? She has a master's degree from Stanford and is one of the Circle's Group of 40, and yet she jokes that the Circle sends her out to deal with critical governments because of her looks. If she's right, what does this say about gender dynamics at the Circle?
Quote #6
"Her name is Mae Holland," Francis said, and for the first time, looked down to her. Her face was in her hands, her eyes peeking from under her trembling fingers. With an almost imperceptible tilt of his head, he seemed to register that Mae wasn't entirely comfortable with the proceedings thus far, but just as soon as he acknowledged her, he turned back to Gus, grinning like a game-show host. (1.16.33)
This is the first time that we see Francis Garaventa exposing Mae Holland publicly without her consent, and, over the course of the novel, Francis' behavior is going to escalate. Why might "consent" be such an important theme in The Circle, and why might it have particularly gendered connotations?