How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
[N]one of us ever cares to talk like you. Us talk like our own Mama and her peoples and their peoples before them. You think out everything in your brain. While us rather talk from something in our hearts that has been there for a long time. (1.4.70)
Ah, the age old battle between the head and the heart. Portia is proud to be like her mother and the heritage that her mom represented. That comes from the heart. But Copeland is all about the mind. He has cut himself off from his own heritage by embracing cool logic and detachment, and some fiercely proper grammar.
Quote #5
Nothing much happened that she could describe to herself in thoughts or words – but there was a feeling of change. All the time she was excited. (2.1.1)
Mick comes of age in this novel. Her life changes constantly, even though much of her day-to-day life remains the same. At this point her identity is still in flux. She could become any number of things. But by the end of the novel, her identity becomes totally static. She becomes defined by her job, and that doesn't seem like it will change anytime soon.
Quote #6
This part of the music was beautiful and clear. She could sing it now whenever she wanted to. Maybe later on, when she had just waked up some morning, more of the music would come back to her. (2.1.136)
Mick is often described as having music inside of her, which is oddly reassuring. Mick can't always access that music, but she knows it's there, deep inside, just waiting for the right time to be heard.