How we cite our quotes: (Letter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
And you put your hand in my hand and you said, You aren't very old, as if that settled it. (1.1.1)
Ames fears that his son will see him as he is: old and frail. His son is very young—too young to form an accurate assessment of his father's age, but there will be signs, moments when his son realizes that his father is not like most other fathers.
Quote #2
Of course your mother knows all about it. She said if I feel good, maybe the doctor is wrong. But at my age there's a limit to how wrong he can be. (1.1.9)
Even without his heart condition, Ames would only have so much time left on earth. No matter what, he's not going to see his son grow up. He's always known that, so he's had a little time to prepare and think about how he might establish a connection with his son even after his death.
Quote #3
I am also inclined to overuse the word "old," which actually has less to do with age, it seems to me, than it does with familiarity. (1.2.47)
Gilead has become familiar to Ames. Maybe too familiar? He can't leave. He is an old man in an old place, a place that is familiar and comfortable. He can no more leave Gilead than old Boughton can leave his house.