A Northern Light Race Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Title.Paragraph)

Quote #7

Weaver's mamma had Weaver off to one side and was giving him the tongue-lashing of the century. She was furious. Was she ever! Her eyes were blazing and she was shaking her finger at him and slapping her palm against his chest. I couldn't hear it all, but I did hear that "damn fools who get themselves locked up in jail can't go to college." Weaver's eyes were on the ground, his head was hanging. He raised it for a few seconds, long enough to say something to her, and then in an instant all the rage left her and she went limp like a popped tire and started crying and Weaver put his arms around her. (14.monochromatic.83)

Based on what we know of Weaver, we understand that he must feel ashamed; when Mattie stopped him, he was shaking with anger and grief, so perhaps his reaction to the man was less controlled than he would have liked. But we wonder what Weaver said to his mother that would cause her rage to dissipate and her grief and terror to manifest in tears. Welcome to the limits of first-person narration, Shmoopsters.

Quote #8

"He was attacked," John said. "In front of the station. The train was late. I went to talk to the stationmaster and left Weaver in the wagon. Three men came out of the Summit Hotel. Trappers. They were drunk. They said some things. Weaver answered back. One of them hauled him out of the seat and all three of them beat him. I heard the noise, ran out, and broke it up."

"Three to one, Weaver? For God's sake, why didn't you just keep quiet?"

"They called me n*****." (31.limicolous.15-17)

Significantly, the beating takes place off-page, which places the focus of the event on Weaver's reaction and others' reactions. There's very little emotion in the description of the event. Though Mr. Sperry wonders why Weaver can't keep his mouth closed, we know that Weaver would never passively accept racist remarks heaped upon his person. He's too righteous for that, and although he has been physically beaten, his spirit has not.

Quote #9

"Hush, Weaver, just let it go," I said, wrapping up a chunk of ice in a towel. "A few days in the kitchen won't kill you. It's better than losing your job. Here, hold this against your lip."

"Don't have much of a choice, do I?" he grumbled. He pressed the ice to his lip, winced, then said, "Three more months, Matt. Just three more months and I'm gone from here. Once I get through Columbia, once I'm a lawyer, ain't no one ever going to hand me a suitcase. Or call me boy or n***** or Sam. Or hit me. And if they do, I'll make sure they go to jail." (31.limicolous.26-27)

As understanding as Mattie can be, she doesn't quite get the depth of injustice that Weaver experiences because of his race. Yes, he's angry about being confined to the kitchen, but he's far angrier about the injustice that he is essentially being punished while the trappers are currently roaming free. College is the way for Weaver to right the wrongs of the world, and he's bent on achieving it. Which makes the death of his dream of college even more devastating.