How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Her chair was close to Gus's. Once he chucked her under the chin and she giggled. It sickened Roy because it didn't make sense. (4.155)
Roy is the ultimate denier of his feelings. He can't recognize that he just feels jealous. He has to hide it under other layers. He thinks he feels sick when he watches Memo and Gus flirt because it "doesn't make sense." In a way, it's true, because Gus is a lot older and Memo is out of his league. But really, Roy wants Memo, and he doesn't want anyone else to have her. And that kind of jealousy does make sense in the novel.
Quote #8
Memo said, "Bump was coming up for a Day just before he died."
He felt anger rise in his heart and asked coldly, "Well, Memo, what did he have that I haven't got?" He stood to his full height, strong and handsome. (5.16-17)
In this exchange, Roy is on Cloud Nine. He's just had a day in his honor at the baseball field and received tons of gifts, and he even convinced Memo to take a ride with him in his new car. So when she brings up Bump it brings up all the jealousy he's trying to fight. His little display, peacocking and comparing himself to Bump, is almost a mating ritual. The testosterone's almost visible.
Quote #9
But Bump was dead, he thought, dead and buried in his new box, an inescapable six feet under, so he subtly changed the subject to Gus. (5.20)
Nietzsche said that anybody who lives for combating their enemy has an interest in that enemy staying alive, and Bump is a great example. His jealousy of Bump is one of his primary motivators, so when he loses his great enemy he's got to turn his jealous energies elsewhere. Luckily, Gus is flirting with Memo so he's a natural replacement.