How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
They feel a sense of renewal, of communal recognition. The women crisp and alert, in diet trim, knowing people's names. The husbands content to measure out the time, distant but ungrudging, accomplished in parenthood, something about them suggesting massive insurance coverage. (1.2)
The opening scene of White Noise shows parents dropping their kids off for the beginning of the college year. Narrator Jack observes that these parents are all the same. The mothers and fathers all—and without fail—act a certain way. On a final note, Jack says that there's something about these parents that suggests "massive insurance coverage." In other words, these people are modern Americans, who always need to feel reassured about everything. That's why they buy massive insurance coverage, so they can try to be prepared for the things in life they can't control.
Quote #2
Soon it was time for lunch. We entered a period of chaos and noise. We milled about, bickered a little, dropped utensils. Finally we were satisfied with what we'd been able to snatch from the cupboards and refrigerator or swipe from each other and we began quietly plastering mustard or mayonnaise on our brightly colored food. (2.17)
It looks like the members of the Jack/Babette family like to look out for themselves when it comes to grabbing lunch. This is no 1950's kitchen scene. Babette isn't going around making lunches. Everyone is grabbing what they can and making whatever they like. The "chaos" of the scene no doubt reflects the chaos of modern life, since the family is usually supposed to be a miniature version of society as a whole.
Quote #3
"This isn't the lunch I'd planned for myself," Babette said. "I was seriously thinking yogurt and wheat germ."
"Where have we heard that before?" Denise said.
"Probably right here,' Steffie said." (2.7)
Poor Babette buys herself healthy food because she thinks she can trick herself into eating it. When she doesn't end up eating it, though, her daughter Denise and stepdaughter Steffie are all over her about it. This is DeLillo humor at its best. These two young girls are talking to their mom as though she's their kid. They scold her for being wasteful. Also, we never really see any example of Babette scolding the girls about anything major. The traditional family just ain't what it used to be. But then again, maybe it never existed in the first place.