How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"We are late," said Susan. "We must wait our turn to play. We will pitch here in the long grass and pretend to watch Jinny and Clara, Betty and Mavis. But we will not watch them. I hate watching other people play games. I will make images of all the things I hate most and bury them in the ground. This shiny pebble is Madame Carlo, and I will bury her deep because of her fawning and ingratiating manners, because of the sixpence she gave me for keeping my knuckles flat when I played my scales. I buried her sixpence. I would bury the whole school: the gymnasium; the classroom; the dining-room that always smells of meat; and the chapel. I would bury the red-brown tiles and the oily portraits of old men—benefactors, founders of schools." (2b.25)
Once again, the intensity of Susan's hatred is notable and kind of alarming. It leads her to do something with those stones that seems just a hair short of Voodoo doll territory. Yikes. This is a long quote, but it's important to get all of Susan's Haterade out there.
Quote #5
"I do not want the train to stop with a thud. I do not want the connection which has bound us together sitting opposite each other all night long to be broken. I do not want to feel that hate and rivalry have resumed their sway; and different desires. Our community in the rushing train, sitting together with only one wish, to arrive at Euston, was very welcome. But behold! It is over. We have attained our desire. We have drawn up at the platform." (4b.2)
Bernard thinks it's sad that everyone who shared that communal sleeper car experience (who knew bonding with strangers could be so easy?) is now scattering to the wind. It seems a bit odd that he sees the default relationship between strangers in the city to be one of "hate and rivalry," right? All these characters are pretty freaking emotional.
Quote #6
"I have eaten no lunch today in order that Susan may think me cadaverous and that Jinny may extend to me the exquisite balm of her sympathy. But while I admire Susan and Percival, I hate the others, because it is for them that I do these antics, smoothing my hair, concealing my accent." (4b.41)
Anyone else find random references to hating one's "friends" a bit unsettling?