How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Beatrice-Joanna's pains were starting.
'Poor old girl,' said Shonny. 'Poor, poor old lady.' He and his wife and sister-in-law were standing, this bright snappy forenoon in February, by the sty of Bessie, the ailing sow. (3.6.1-2)
This passage draws an implicit connection between Beatrice-Joanna and Bessie the pig, as Shonny's sympathetic words could apply just as easily to either one of them.
Quote #8
Beatrice-Joanna now wanted to lie down. The amnion had ruptured in a rush, the amniotic waters had escaped. 'On your left side, girl,' ordered Shonny. 'Is it hurting? Poor old lady.' The pains were, in fact, growing much worse; Beatrice-Joanna began to hold her breath and to bear down strenuously. Shonny knotted a long towel to the bed-head, urging, 'Pull on that, girl. Pull hard. God bless you, it won't be long now.' Beatrice-Joanna pulled, groaning. (3.6.16)
Just as Shonny refers to Bessie the pig as a "poor old girl" and "poor old lady," he uses this same language as Beatrice-Joanna gives birth. Does this make Beatrice-Joanna seem more animalistic, or does it make Bessie seem more human?
Quote #9
Often called a flower by Derek (and, previously, by Tristram), had she really been a flower she would have belonged to the class Diandria. She needed two men in her life, her day to be salted by infidelity. (5.1.20)
Flowers are very old and traditional symbols of femininity and female sexuality. The taxonomic class "Diandria" is a significant choice here, because flowers in this class have two stamens (the "male" organ).