Airborn Society and Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

My mother would never buy [the perfume] for herself; she said it was a luxury we could not afford, but my father used to tell her everyone, no matter how poor, deserved at least one luxury. (2.2)

This not only establishes that Matt's family doesn't have a ton of money, but also that his father was a dreamer. It's amazing what can be revealed in a few sentences, eh?

Quote #2

"This is the tour? Just you and… him." She said "him" like I was something oozing from the bottom of the trash can.

"That's right, Marjorie. He is the tour guide, after all."

"Well, I can only say it's most inappropriate. Most inappropriate indeed. Your parents will not be pleased to hear of it."

It's hard to tell what Miss Simpkins is more offended by: the fact that Kate was alone with a boy, or the fact that Kate was alone with a poor boy, one who works aboard the ship as a cabin boy.

Quote #3

"I am. But I'm crew, not a first-class passenger. I can't just sit down in your stateroom!"

"I don't see why not, if a first-class passenger invites you."

She seemed quite miffed, and I understood then that hers was a world where she got her own way and nothing was impossible. For a moment I almost disliked her. Could she even imagine how other people lived? Could she guess how it felt to be poor and miss an opportunity because of a rich man and his son? (4.106-108)

We're gonna take a real shot in the dark and say that no, Kate probably can't imagine what it's like to be Matt. She's been given every opportunity in life—well, ones that are appropriate for a girl of her social standing—and will have a very hard time seeing past that privilege.