How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
She had thought, on his entering the flat and taking her in his arms, or urging, in a mad instant, that they run away together, to live for ever on coconuts and love among the banyans. But then her woman's desire for the best of both worlds had supervened. (1.9.8)
What exactly is the novel's narrative voice getting at when it speaks of Beatrice-Joanna's "woman's desire for the best of both worlds"? Is this simply the narrative voice speaking here, or is there any free indirect discourse at work?
Quote #5
Beatrice-Joanna started to snivel, to make herself look very weak, defenceless, small. 'It's been such an awful day,' she said. 'I've been so miserable. I've been so lonely.' (1.9.12)
Beatrice-Joanna is a little bit like Derek: she's good at turning situations to her own advantage through careful performances of "women's weakness" and "women's intuition." What does it say about social views of women and femininity in Beatrice-Joanna's world that men like Derek and Tristram respond so predictably to these kinds of manipulations?
Quote #6
'I've just got a feeling, that's all.' Careful, careful. 'I just have a sort of intuition about it, that's all.' Then, 'Oh,' she cried powerfully. 'I'm sick to death of the whole business. If God made us what we are, why should we have to worry about what the State tells us to do? God's stronger and wiser than the State, isn't He?' (2.4.30)
As in the earlier passage where she "snivels" and makes herself "look very weak, defenceless," and "small," Beatrice-Joanna is able to manipulate stereotypes about "women's intuition" when she needs to. Here's another question in this vein: if Beatrice-Joanna and Tristram live in such a radically different "futuristic" world where many gender roles have changed, why are stereotypes about women's weakness and intuition still so common?