How we cite our quotes: (Chapter, Paragraph)
Quote #4
"Old World's mucky, violent, and crowded," Hildy says, wiping her face with a napkin, "a-splitting right into bits with people a-hating each other and a-killing each other, no one happy till everyone's miserable. Least it was all those years ago." (16.17)
The Old World was a society where the individual couldn't grow, couldn't become happy and free. It became corrupt because people were trying to protect themselves, and this led to killing and hating. When individuals put themselves before the common good, they lose a functional and safe environment.
Quote #5
"The law is for men," Hildy says, her voice staying calm, like we were standing there talking bout the weather. Can't she see how red this man's Noise is getting? Red ain't yer color if you wanna have a chat. "This here pup ain't a man yet."
"Yer numbers don't mean nothing here, boy" Matthew spits. I don't care how many days away ye are." (17.11-12)
Todd is judged not as an individual, but based on where he's from. See the problem with this? Todd is actually innocent of the crimes of Prentisstown—heck, he doesn't even know what the crimes are. But people from other settlements, like Matthew Lyle, want to threaten him and punish him just because of where he's from.
Quote #6
"I didn't do nothing," I say, taking a step backward, trying to keep my Noise from showing the back door behind me.
"Don't matter," Matthew says, walking forward as I step back. "We got a law here in this town."
"I don't have a quarrel with you," I say."But I've got one with ye, boy." (19.6-8)
This shows that society can cause fights between individuals. Todd tries to defend himself and tell Matthew Lyle that he doesn't have a problem with him personally, but Matthew makes his quarrel with Todd's hometown personal, and hates him by association.