How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #7
"One swallow does not make a summer," it said. "Many hands make light work." It stopped again, apparently not satisfied with this effort at bridging the communication gap. It stood still for half a minute, then went to the front window and with precise, stiff, careful movements picked out one of the antique disk-records displayed there, and brought it to Orr. It was a Beatles record: "With a Little Help from My Friends." (10.24)
This is the alien trying to tell George how to deal with his strange power. Why do you think he recommends seeking out friends and their help? Is the alien just a really big Beatles fan, or is there something more to it than that? Fast-forwarding a little, is it George alone who saves the world, or does he do it with a little help from his friends?
Quote #8
At dinner George watched her; she watched him a good bit, too. They had been married seven months. They said nothing of any importance. They washed up the dishes and went to bed. In bed, they made love. Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; re-made all the time, made new. When it was made, they lay in each other's arms, holding love, asleep. In her sleep Heather heard the roaring of a creek full of the voices of unborn children singing. (10.49)
Were you surprised by this rather romantic and poetic description of love in the middle of the novel? We were. Why does the narrator say that love has to be made? Does this have anything to do with the alien's advice about friends?
Quote #9
"Help me," he said aloud, for the void drew him, pulled at him. He had not the strength all by himself to get through nothingness and out the other side.
There was a sort of dull rousing in his mind; he thought of Tiua'k Ennbe Ennbe, and of the bust of Schubert, and of Heather's voice saying furiously, "What the hell, George!" This seemed to be all he had to cross nothingness on. He went forward. He knew as he went that he would lose all he had. (10.153)
Here, George is attempting to save the world from Dr. Haber's dreams. When he searches for help, what he gets are memories of people he has had relationships with. How does that work? What is it about these memories that counteracts the negativity of Dr. Haber's dreams? Also, since Dr. Haber refuses to have meaningful relationships, would it have been possible for him to get help from anyone besides George?