A Gathering of Old Men Society and Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

I had Lucy bake me an apple pie, because I knew how much Jack just liked his apple pie. I told Lucy when she came to work that morning if she baked me the best apple pie she ever baked in her life I would give her half a day off. She told me don't worry. And I'll be darn if she didn't bake the best one I had ever seen or tasted. […] I told her, at twelve o'clock sharp, she could take off because I am a woman of my word. (3.1)

Seriously?! Miss Merle's housekeeper bakes the world's best apple pie and she only gets a half-day off? Not only do we find out that Miss Merle is obviously wealthy (and white) in this passage, but that she's completely clueless, too.

Quote #2

"Now, what did you say Candy did?" she asked. That gal got spunk, just like Grandpa Nate."

            "My God," I said. "My God, Beatrice. Candy just told me she killed somebody. Is that all you got to say, she's just like her grandpa?"

            "My grandpa," she said. "Her great-grandpa. Her grandpa grandpa. About the time he shot one of them Cajuns, messing up the land with those tractors. Yes, that gal's got spunk in her. (3.92-4)

Why isn't Bea worried? Sure, she's a senile old drunk, but that's not the only reason. To her, a Cajun life is cheap because Cajuns aren't rich. Pretty gross, huh?

Quote #3

I heard Clatoo out there […] and I wiped my face and went out on the garry. Clatoo was in that old green pickup truck he used for peddling his garden. He had on that little narrow-brim straw hat, a white shirt, and a bow tie. Clatoo always let you know he was a businessman. (5.39)

Now isn't that something? Looks like there's some differences in status among the old men, too. What do you think sets Clatoo apart from them?