How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Volume.Chapter.Paragraph) and (Volume.Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #10
"I shall pray for your soul," promised Nessarose.
"I shall wait for your shoes," Elphie answered. (4.3.6.58-9)
Besides being the best sister exchange in the whole book, this little beat also gives us insight into the very different belief systems of Elphaba and Nessa. Nessa is a rather overbearing evangelical, while Elphaba reveals her own materialist streak.
Quote #11
"Any afterlife notion is a manipulation and a sop. It's shameful the way the unionists and the pagans both keep talking up hell for intimidation and the airy Other Land for reward."
"Don't," Sarima said. "For one thing, that's where Fiyero is waiting for me. And you know it."
Elphaba's jaw dropped. When she least expected it, Sarima always seemed ready to rush in with a surprise attack. "In the afterlife?" said Elphie. (4.2.6.58-60)
Elphaba's complaint about people using heaven and hell to browbeat others would certainly make Nietzsche proud. He griped about the same thing in a lot of his work, including Beyond Good and Evil. It sounds a bit like Karl Marx, too, who called religion the "opiate of the masses." Aside from the philosophy shout-outs, this passage also helps demonstrate the way Elphaba sees Sarima. She speaks of Sarima conducting a "sneak attack" on her, which is kind of ironic, since Elphaba is usually the one conducting her sneak attack forgiveness campaign.