time was not passing, as she had just admitted, but that it was turning in a circle
There are many great quotes in this novel, but this is one of my favorites. I really feel that Ursula is extremely alone in this moment. She's having a sobering epiphany or sorts and is keeping it to herself. In this instance I think her solitude is, if anything, good for her. She brushes it off as a thought that doesn't even effect her.
He was taller than when he had left, paler and bonier, and he showed the first symptoms of resistance to nostalgia.
This quote is showing us the dehumanization that has happened to Aureliano Buendía, for his own mother to fin him to vastly different and far less emotional. Maybe that he's unable to feel any emotion now at all. Much like the kind of hardened militant we discussed in lecture.
Thus they went on living in a reality that was slipping away, momentarily captured by words, but which would escape irremediably when they forgot the values of the written letters.
I found it interesting that the world they initially lived in was one in which there were little words, as referenced that simply had to "point" at things. However, here Jose is finding himself in a world ruled by words and he's seemingly overwhelmed by it and over thinking how to go on functioning while not only remembering the words but also their meaning.
God
This is only one of the many examples of religion in this book. It was only after our lecture on Latin America that I realized how often God is referenced. At this time the church had a great deal of influence. Due in part to their great deal of money. While this isn't playing too significant of a role now, I predict that it will come up later on for Jose.
"Can I bring your chair for you?" "No, that is a boy's job."
Even though Ezinma is Okonkwo's obvious favorite out of all his children he still holds her to the standards that he and the village have set for women. Possibly giving her the idea that he doesn't love her as much as he does because he sticks to his ideal gender roles so much.
if a woman runs away from her husband her bride-price is returned
This quote stood out to me because it’s telling us quite a bit about women in the culture. It’s showing us that for a man to be referred to as a woman is highly offensive and insulting. It’s also showing us how common that term might have been, for a young child to know it.
Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness, and even now he still remembered how he had suffered when a playmate had told him that his father was agbala. That was how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken no title
This quote stood out to me because it’s telling us quite a bit about women in the culture. It’s showing us that for a man to be referred to as a woman is highly offensive and insulting. It’s also showing us how common that term might have been, for a young child to know it.
I'll forget what it's like to be a woman
This quote of Hella's stood out to me. Less because of the content and more because of the statement it's making towards gender in this time. Men could simply be people, but a woman is a woman and must identify as such. That "being a woman" is such a huge part of Hella's identity really shows the inequality at the time. This is not the only time she makes a comment like this one, and I think overall Baldwin uses Hella to display the limitations of a woman in this time.
There will be a · 1 · · · h I ·11 d gtr s1ttmg opposite me w 0 w1 won er why I have not been flirt-ing with her
This is our first indication throughout the book that David views women differently than the average man. We don't yet know the real reason why, especially since he then refers to "his" Hella. According to Juliet Gardiner, Baldwin's implication here is consistent with the wold wide view of women in the 50's. They were expected to be perfect wives and mothers, and often flirted with and arguably viewed as an object of entertainment.
taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves,
This is the first of many racist comments that take place throughout the book. The sheer volume of comments made in regards to race in the entire book is enough proof to answer the question of, is the book racist or about racism? I argue that the book is not racist, but instead that it is realist. I also argue that the public finds this book so controversial because Conrad is giving us a fairly accurate portrayal of how cruel humans can be. I believe that the book is racist because he also writes in regards to the wrongs of colonialism. His statements that some view as racist are merely observations of an unbalanced social hierarchy. You can tell this also because of the fact that he remains very neutral in all controversial comments.
t has all come to nothing.
At this time in history, for various reasons, citizens had lost faith in law-enforcement and they were trying to provide some reassurance to the public. However, for a police detective to accept help from an unofficial detective off the record would be viewed as suspicious and unprofessional in today's society.
Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoul-ders in his easy fashio
I believe this can be interpreted in two ways. One being that Holmes is again satisfied with himself and his accurate assessment of the situation at hand. The other, humanizing him a bit further, being that Holmes is simply happy that the dart had missed him. Maybe even invigorated by his brush with death. I do believe these dual interpretations could have been Doyle's intention because as both interpretations leave very different impressions, the question between them continues to portray Holmes himself as a bit of a mystery.
littleblack man—the smallest I have ever see
As shown in an example earlier, in which Holmes references a book for descriptions of various nationalities, this quote is another example of Doyle giving an idea of the diversity in London at this time. As also explained in the article I have attached, while many different nationalities had migrated to London at this time very few were of different appearance.
to America or the Colonies
As Steve Jones says in my attached article, the 19th century relationship between the US and Britain was actually quite strong. Doyle is using this brief mention of America to display the relationship between the nations at the time. Though America became independent from the UK in 1776, by the 1800's it has become quite reasonable for someone to possibly seek refuge in "the Colonies".
Altogether he gaveme the impression of a respectable master marinerwho had fallen into years and poverty
This is an example of cultural blending. Doyle is normalizing cultural blending through Watson's interpretation and reaction to the situation. For an unknown man who appears to be poverty stricken to wander in unaccompanied and be greeted with ease shows the lack of alarm Watson feels towards this man despite their differing backgrounds. The later discovery made that the old man is in fact Holmes, does not diminish the impact of Watson's calm reaction.
want you to open all notesand telegrams, and to act on your own judgment ifany news should come. Can I rely upon you?
Though Holmes is far from a sentimental man, I would argue that he does not find home and comfort in any one place, but in Watson himself. Holmes is an independent "lone wolf" but as this quote, along with many others, shows; he trusts Watson. He does not rely on much outside of him own intellect but I would argue that he does rely on Watson.
“I would not tell them too much,” said Holmes.“Women are never to be entirely trusted,—not thebest of them.”
This statement made by Holmes not only hints at the female role in the historical context, but also provides some insight to Holmes' character. Especially because Watson quickly notes the remark as an, "atrocious sentiment", proving that perhaps Holmes' view on women is becoming out dated.
Jill Kolman
jillkolman