Quote 1
"[…] A man wants a woman who will make life easy for him. She should be attractive, well groomed, knowledgeable in music, painting, and running a house, but above all, she should keep his name above scandal and never call attention to herself." (3.32)
This is a pretty short summary of what Gemma is going to Spence to become, and what she feels she has to fight every day: losing her sense of self and becoming a robot with no desires but to make her husband happy.
Quote 2
"Tell Mary to leave me alone. I don't want this power she's giving me."
"She's not giving you the power, miss. Just showing you the way."
"Well, I don't want to follow! Do you understand, Mary Dowd?" (8.31-33)
Often Gemma doesn't want power like this—it is scary to her and makes her feel even more foreign and stranger than she already does at Spence. She just wants to be normal.
Quote 3
"Mother was Father's equal," I say coolly. "He didn't expect her to walk behind him like some pining imbecile." (3.33)
Gemma has a strong sense of self-worth and a good foundation of equality from her parents. Even though they still got along in the social system set up for the English, they also seem to have recognized some of its problems—at least, this is what Gemma took away from her childhood.
Quote 4
"No more doing that," I say. "Promise me?" […]
"Gemma?" she says after a moment has passed.
"Hmmm?"
"You won't tell, will you?"
"No."
More secrets. How did I end up keeping so many? (15.142-151)
In this book, secrets can be pretty heavy—like Ann's secret (cutting herself) that Gemma discovers by accident. In order to keep her friendship alive, and build trust with Ann, she promises not to tell. We wonder if she wanted to? Do you think it would help Ann in this situation?
Quote 5
"What are they doing?"
"Putting in lines for electric lights," Tom answers, coughing into a white handkerchief with his initials stitched on a corner in a distinguished black script. (3.24-25)
This little detail gives us a clue about the class of Gemma and her brother—they must have some money in the family since Tom has an elegant, decorative nose rag.
Quote 6
"Yes, I am, as you put it, quite all right." I could laugh, it's such a lie—I am most certainly not all right. (3.46)
Gemma lies to Tom about being okay after her mother's death—though since she is answering his cryptic question about whether she is a virgin or not, perhaps this isn't a lie. While Tom isn't lying in his question, communication would be a whole lot clearer if he'd just say what he means.
Quote 7
"Gemma, Mother's murder is a blight on this family. It would be scandalous if the true facts were known." He stares at me. "Mother died of cholera," he says emphatically, as if even he believes the lie now. (3.47)
Tom is trying desperately to keep the family out of gossip, to make sure they stay in good standing in society—it ensures he and Gemma will both be able to marry into a lot of money. Funny how Gemma doesn't care about this though, and instead wants nothing to do with the lie.
Quote 8
"Ann, darling," I say, copying Pippa's chummy tone from earlier. Everyone seems surprised to hear me speak, no one more surprised than I am at the moment. "Don't be modest. Tell Miss Moore the truth." […]
"The t-t-truth?"
"Yes," I say, hoping I can make this up as I go along.
"The truth—"… (6.54-57)
Oh no she didn't… Gemma comes back with an awesome lie to rival the Torture Twins. We don't feel bad at all about it either because she does it to get poor Ann out of hot water.
Quote 9
"What if I just used a bit of magic, just enough to help Father and my friends with it—nothing else?"
She takes me by the shoulders like a child. "Gemma, you must listen to me. Do not take the magic out of the realms. Promise me."
"Yes, fine!" I say, tearing out of her grasp. (25.92-94)
This isn't a lie yet, and it doesn't become one until later on when Gemma breaks her promise and betrays her mother—but we think Gemma shows that she isn't serious about her promise here, and chooses to lie to her mother to get her to stop. Classic teen move.