How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
They had been classmates, roommates, in the State University, but always he thought of Paul Riesling, with his dark slimness, his precisely parted hair, his nose-glasses, his hesitant speech, his moodiness, his love of music, as a younger brother. (4.3.6)
Babbitt thinks of Paul Riesling as a younger brother whom he needs to protect and look out for. The problem is that Babbitt doesn't realize how much he relies on Paul to keep his own life together. The moment Paul goes to jail and disappears from his life, Babbitt falls to pieces because he no longer has anyone else to look out for. He needs to face himself, and he doesn't really like what he sees.
Quote #5
"What a family! I don't know how we all get to scrapping this way. Like to go off some place and be able to hear myself think…Paul…Maine…Wear old pants, and loaf, and cuss." (6.3.14)
When he looks at the chaos of his family life, Babbitt wishes he could just pick up and go off to Maine to be with Paul Riesling. Then he could just be himself, swearing and not caring about how he dressed. Basically, freedom is what the guy is looking for.
Quote #6
Ed Overbrook was a classmate of Babbitt who had been a failure. He had a large family and a feeble insurance business out in the suburb of Dorchester. (15.5.2)
Having a family is definitely a sign of a successful life in Babbitt. But having a family that's too large can be a symbol of poverty and ignorance, as we find with the case of Ed Overbrook. There's a reason, you see, why middle-class people like the Babbitts only have between one and three kids. It's because they want to make sure there's enough money to give all of their kids the biggest advantages in life. Having six to eight kids, though, makes doing this a lot harder.