How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Francie turned and went down into the cellar and sat in the dark a long time waiting until the waves of hurt stopped breaking over her. It was the first of many disillusionments that were to come as her capacity to feel things grew. She never liked blackboard erasers after that. (15.13)
When you grow up, there are some major bummers. One such bummer is when you are expecting something cool—let’s say a real close look at a real school eraser—but instead you get spat upon. Okay, well, maybe we don’t all experience this exact same thing, but Shmoop is fairly confident something similar happened to you. Can you think of a time when you were totally spat upon in some way when you had high expectations that something cool was going to happen?
Quote #2
He was talking more quietly now asking the nurse how that kind of people could survive; that it would be a better world if they were all sterilized and couldn’t breed anymore. Did that mean he wanted her to die? Would he do something to make her die because her hands and arms were dirty from the mud pies? She looked to the nurse. To Francie, all women were mamas, like her own mother and Aunt Sissy and Aunt Evy. (18.19)
The doctor talks about Francie like she is much too stupid to understand what he is saying. Francie looks to the nurse for some comfort but finds none; she feels ashamed, alone, and scared. It stinks when you first find out that there are people who will hate you for things out of your control.
Quote #3
“My brother is next. His arm is just as dirty as mine so don’t be surprised. And you don’t have to tell him. You told me.” (18.24)
Coming of age implies that this is a story about Francie figuring out who she is, and how she develops her identity and her values. To the doctor and nurse’s surprise, she stands right up for herself and tries to protect her brother from experiencing what she just went through. She is protective of her brother and is willing to speak her mind.