“It was not a woman's destiny to be kept, nor to be traded according to a man's will. Where would men even be without women to forever serve their needs? Yet they apparently had no conception of their dependence upon the women they treated as their property. Without women, the world would fall to pieces in two days. For me were like children.”
The excerpt highlights the authority of women and the importance of their role in society. It is reflective of the themes of inequality and power dynamics that the novel brings to light. Through the stories of Walter, Malik, Jenny, and Laila, Evison shows how their ancestors experienced various forms of oppression and subjugation, such as slavery and discrimination. Ai Liu's thoughts in the quote illustrate that women are not objects to be traded and that men are dependent upon them. This sentiment is echoed in the other characters' stories in the narrative. By highlighting the importance of women and their influence on society, Evison is making a statement about gender equality and the need for more equitable power structures. The message is especially relevant today, as women continue to face discrimination and other forms of inequality. The quote further echoes the importance of women and their role in shaping the world.
“In a world that was forever changing, we were only as sure, and only as good, as our next step.”
In the statement, Walter figures out the uncertainty of life as each moment is an opportunity to make a better decision. Walter’s life has been filled with missteps, but he is now coming to terms with the fact that he has to take responsibility for his actions. He is no longer a victim of his circumstances, but a participant in his life. He is accepting that change is inevitable and that he has the power to make good choices. He is also recognizing that his past doesn’t have to define his future and that he can make his destiny. Walter’s words also suggest that the characters in the novel are not just victims of their pasts or their families’ histories, but that they have the power to create their destinies by taking ownership of their future.
“Sometimes there's no real why in this world…There just ain't one, not one that makes any sense, and not one that's any comfort to a soul. Most of the time in this world it's just a bad case of the way things are. You gotta just absorb the world as best you can and look for the bright spots.”
The excerpt demonstrates the difficulty of finding meaning and comfort in a world filled with injustice, inequality, and suffering. The quote is particularly relevant to Nora, one of the characters in the novel to whom Cora tells the statement. For Nora, the quote serves as a reminder that despite how hard she may try, there will always be an underlying sense of unfairness in the world. It also offers her some solace in the fact that, despite all the suffering, she can still find "bright spots" and look for the good within her life. In the context of the novel, the citation highlights the interconnectedness between past and present, and the struggles of those before us still shape our lives today. Thus, no matter how difficult the world may be, we must strive to find hope and continue to look for meaning.
