How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
[…] and more important, he would have learned not to fool with anything that belonged to Pilate, who never bothered anybody, was helpful to everybody, but who also was believed to have the power to step out of her skin, set a bush afire from fifty yards, and turn a man into a ripe rutabaga, all on account of that fact that she had no navel. (1.4.94)
"Remember, with great power comes great responsibility." Thank you, Uncle Ben, for this excellent Spider Man advice. Pilate seems to embody these sage words. She inspires fear in everyone around her, but she never let’s this fear supersize her ego. She is generous to everyone.
Quote #5
"How’d she die?"
"Ghosts."
"Ghosts?"
"You don’t believe in ghosts?"
"Well"—Milkman smiled—"I’m willing to, I guess." "You better believe, boy. They’re here." (1.4.109)
Milkman, Milkman, Milkman. You need to start believing in something, and why not start with ghosts? If the crazy town crier who gave you your nickname believes in ghosts, then, probably you should listen to him. Here we see the way that ghosts haunt not only the Dead family, but the greater community as well. They exist.
Quote #6
She moved around the house, onto the porch, down the streets, to the fruit stalls and the butchershop, like a restless ghost, finding peace nowhere and in nothing. (1.5.127)
Hagar is driven crazy without Milkman’s love. She is almost inhuman without it, skirting life and death. She has ceased to be her own person and has ceased to be human in many ways. And yet she is driven crazy by one of the most human emotions out there: grief.