How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
And he was far from satisfied with prison life in the army. In the Monterey jail he was accustomed to ease and companionship. In the army he found only work. (8.3)
Earlier, Joe had compared jail to sleep. Here, he talks about its "ease and companionship." In the army jail, though, he was actually forced to work, and that really wasn't his thing. He sees civilian life as something easy and free from responsibilities, particularly compared to army life.
Quote #8
A policeman finally interfered and took him in hand. The Portagee sighed happily. He was home again. (8.11)
Big Joe's reaction to being put in jail might not be the reaction you would have. After he trashes a bordello and sets it on fire, the policeman who arrests him is almost a welcome sight for him. It's as though Big Joe has no self-control and is just waiting for the cops to come and put limits on him, like a toddler throwing a tantrum until his mom steps in. And indeed, Joe feels at home when he gets arrested.
Quote #9
They combed the streets for his old friends, Pilon and Danny and Pablo, and could not find them. The police sergeant said he hadn't booked them for a long time.
"They must be dead," said the Portagee. (8.14-15)
We couldn't help but laugh out loud at this one. Big Joe gets back to Monterey six months later than all his friends because of doing time in jail, so he doesn't know they've set up shop in Danny's house. The fact that, for him, the only explanation for them not having been to jail in a while is that they must be dead shows the very low expectations he has for his friends.