How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Shonny was a Pancelt, one of the rare survivors of the Celtic Union that, in voluntary exodus, had left the British Isles and, wave after wave, settled in Armorica nearly a century before. In Shonny was a heartening stew of Manx, Glamorgan, Shetland, Ayrshire, and County Cork, but this, as Shonny was hot in pointing out, could not be called miscegenation. (2.9.8)
Compared to other characters in the novel, is Shonny's touchiness about "miscegenation" unusual? Does anyone else demonstrate similar concerns about racial purity?
Quote #8
Tristram's new cell-mate was a massive Nigerian called Charlie Linklater. He was a friendly talkative man, with a mouth so large that it was a wonder he was able to attain any precision in his enunciation of the English vowel sounds. (3.9.1)
Compare this description of Charlie Linklater to the novel's opening description of the two Black men who collect Roger Foxe's body for the Ministry of Agriculture. How are they similar, or different? Does this description belong to the novel's narrative voice, or is there any free indirect discourse at work here?
Quote #9
A warm dark woman in her thirties came up to Tristram and said, 'How about you and me, duck?' 'Gladly,' said Tristram. 'You look proper sad,' she said, 'as if you was pining away after somebody. Am I right?' 'Another couple of days, with a bit of luck,' said Tristram, 'and I'll be with her. In the meantime—' They rolled into the dance. (4.5.5)
This is one of the few instances in The Wanting Seed where a person of color is described without any derogatory associations with the animal kingdom, virility, exceptionally large mouths, etc. What makes this woman, or this situation, so different from the others?