How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
A cocky young fool I'd been, assuming I'd be a junior sailmaker. Me with no Academy training, and no wealth to help advance me. Of course I'd be pushed aside by the likes of Otto Lunardi's boy. I felt no anger with the captain. He was an honorable man and had always done his best for me. But in my guts I already felt a hard, hot loathing for Lunardi's son. (3.28)
Sometimes jealousy is a totally justified emotion. Bruce got the position that Matt has worked hard for without putting an ounce of effort towards the accomplishment—all because his daddy paid for it. Matt's dad is dead, and he doesn't have any money either. All aboard the jealousy train, Matt, we'll pay your fare—you deserve it.
Quote #2
Inside, the sailmakers would be in a frenzy, seeking out every tear in her gossamer gas cells. Outside, the hull crawled with more crew, patching all those holes we'd missed. I wished I was with them. Lunardi was up there. But here I was, shimmied halfway up a coconut palm, trying to string a tarpaulin to make some shade for our precious passengers. (8.9)
Matt is jealous of the sailmakers. Frankly, we're jealous of the passengers. Their role sounds awesome.
Quote #3
"I'm sure he can keep a secret. He seems a perfect gentleman."
"A much better bet than a cabin boy, you're quite right. I'm sure you'll be much more comfortable with Mr. Lunardi. Good night, miss." (10.138-139)
Kate didn't mean anything by it, but Matt's speaking out of anger. Not only is Bruce more qualified for the word gentlemen because he's loaded, but he stole Matt's job. Don't throw a pity party yet though, Matt. Keep it together.
Quote #4
"Thank you," she said, walking over. "Thank you so much, Matt. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. I didn't mean to imply that Mr. Lunardi was—"
"—any better than me? Well he is, isn't he? Let's not pretend. He's wealthy, he's older, he's handsome, he's a junior officer…"
"Is he?"
"Of course he is," I fairly shouted. "Assistant sailmaker. Didn't you notice the insignia on his collar?"
"I didn't, no."
"The golden wheels? Blazing like little suns?"
She shook her head. "All those insignia look the same to me. Everyone seems to have them."
"Not me," I said hotly." (10.146-153)
Of course the insignia blaze like little suns if they are a symbol for everything you ever wanted to accomplish. Poor Matt is practically green with envy at this point. Not only does Bruce have all those things, but Matt thinks Kate prefers him as well.
Quote #5
"I see you around the ship, doesn't matter what you're doing—you just look content, like you're doing the right thing. My problem is I can't figure out what's the right thing for me." (14.67)
For once, Bruce is jealous of Matt. The grass is always greener….
Quote #6
"You didn't want to go to the Airship Academy, then?" I would have given my molars and as many fingers as I could spare for such a chance. (14.72)
Although Matt handles Bruce's nonchalance with style, this would've made us turn into the Hulk…
Quote #7
I couldn't quite understand why he just didn't do what he wanted—but it's easy to give advice to others, until you try to imagine yourself in their skin. Going against your father, feeling alone and helpless in the world: these were not easy things to bear. (14.86)
Matt, you're a good person. Most people wouldn't try to understand what it's like in other people's shoes—especially the shoes of someone who has stolen your promotion right from under you and doesn't even want it. But maybe Matt can relate because although he didn't go against his father, he certainly has had to go it alone because of his death.
Quote #8
Bruce couldn't stop talking. His enthusiasm was like a big balloon that was stealing all the air from mine. I didn't mind so much that he'd seen the cloud cat—but I did mind that he'd stolen something that, hours before, had belonged just to Kate and me. He'd stolen our discovery, just like he'd stolen my position aboard ship. "Well, that's all grand," I said. "Everything's taken care of. You'll all be famous. But right now, we need to get back to the ship." (14.236)
Once again Matt is feeling jealous of Bruce and his involvement. But maybe instead of assuming that Bruce and Kate will leave him out of their successes he needs to gain a little self-worth and realize that he's as much a part of this adventure as they are. Bruce isn't stealing their discovery—he's sharing it.
Quote #9
It made me angry that a man like him should have a son. This boy did not know who his father was, the things he'd done—and if he did, would it even have mattered? What did any of that have to do with him? Here was his father, the man who had adventures, who told glorious stories and held him on his lap and kiss his head. There was nothing else of importance. (16.145)
Who says jealousy needs to be rational? Can Theo help it that he has a dad when Matt doesn't? Nope. But it won't prevent Matt from resenting the crap out of him, or from wishing that Szpirglas were dead instead of his own father.
Quote #10
I remembered him often still. We couldn't have escaped without Bruce to help us. What made it worse was that I'd felt resentful of him. And what made me saddest of all was that he died before he figured out what his dream was, what he most loved and wanted to do with his life. (21.83)
Sometimes remorse is the only thing that can follow when you have unkind feelings toward someone else. It's like when you judge someone for something, and then you find out later there are good reasons why they are that way… and then you feel guilty for judging them in the first place. (Come on, we've all done it.) Although Matt had pretty good reasons to be jealous of Bruce, it turns out that he is the one who comes out on top. Poor Bruce.