How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"But I love you, my darling, do you see? He's kept you from us for five years, he's taken you out of the world you belong in." (6.1.74)
Augusta isn't too happy that Susan lives halfway across the country, either. The two girls spent their entire childhoods planning their lives together as if they were spouses, but those hopes and dreams were shut down in an instant. It's a real bummer for both ladies.
Quote #8
She knew that sooner or later [...] she would be packing up her children and [...] going West again—not, as at first, on an adventurous picnic [...] but into exile. (6.2.98)
At first, Susan believed that her family would spend a few years out west before returning home to the East Coast. Things don't quite turn out as planned, though. Instead, Susan is forced to come to terms with the fact that she might never see certain members of her family again.
Quote #9
Like a widow, she was, grim and diligent to support her brood. She does not sound unhappy, but in two separate letters she refers to herself as one "who wants above all to be alone." (8.1.9)
After her marriage begins to crumble, Susan starts believing that she deserves to be alone. It's hard to blame her for feeling this way: she's had an extremely stressful life struggling to raise a family in the West and could honestly use a break. But, Susan is only able to stay in this self-imposed exile for so long before returning home to the people she loves.