How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #4
He could almost feel the slickness of the weapon with his fingers. If he had a gun like that he would polish it and keep it shining so it would never rust. (70)
Dave daydreams about guns the way most teenagers daydream about Kate Upton. Yikes. In his naivety, Dave believes that simply owning a weapon will give him untold power, changing his life in an instant. The more time goes on, the more Dave sounds like a supervillain.
Quote #5
In the gray light of dawn, he held it loosely, feeling a sense of power. Could kill a man with a gun like this. Kill anybody, black or white. (114)
Although race is rarely explicitly touched on by the story, it can often be seen lingering right below the surface. Just look at Dave's relationship with Hawkins. Hawkins—a rich white man—takes advantage of young black workers like Dave, working them all day for little pay. In Dave's mind, his new gun allows him to bypass this arrangement, if you will.
Quote #6
If he were holding his gun in his hand, nobody could run over him; they would have to respect him. (114)
Is that true, Dave? Respect is something that's earned, not purchased from a dude named Joe for two bucks. Still, this once again shows how Dave's feelings of weakness drive him to reach for power.