How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Family is family, but even love can't keep people from eating at each other. (1.46)
How many times have you heard the phrase love conquers all? Well, this statement is all about showing that life does not fit into neat little boxes; it's complicated and ambiguous. Do we ever doubt that the Boatwrights love each other to death? No. But people are who they are, and sometimes they hurt each another. Hm, foreshadowing much?
Quote #2
"Seems like after that we were all grown up and everything was different. It's the way of things. One day you're all family together, fighting and hugging from one moment to the next, and then it's all gone. You're off making your own family, scared of what's coming next, and Lord, things have a way of running faster and faster all the time." (6.100)
It might be the case that what seems straightforward when you are young suddenly becomes complicated when you are older and in the thick of it; at least, that's what Earle seems to be getting at here. In fact, once you have your own family, who you consider your "family" might completely change, and that certainly shakes things up.
Quote #3
"You don't know how long Mama's been dragging around. I been picking up after her and my lazy-assed brothers all my life. People always whining at me what a tragedy it is, mama so sick and likely to die. Uh-huh, right, I say. First it was female trouble and she couldn't lift nothing, then it was bad lungs and nobody supposed to smoke in the house. Never could play the radio or make no noise after sunset so she could get her rest. Never no boyfriends could come by and honk to take me out. No new dresses 'cause her medicine cost so much. Nothing but wheezing and whining and telling me what to do." (10.11)
Compares Deedee's relationship with her mother to Bone's relationship with Anney. Bone is shocked that anyone could even think about their mother the way Deedee thinks about hers. Clearly Deedee has had a very different family experience than Bone has had. Are we supposed to think of Deedee as spoiled and ungrateful, or do we sympathize with her in this passage? That's up for debate. This isn't a matter of who is the better person or who had the better upbringing. The entire novel is about understanding people and understanding where they come from. Same thing here: we can write Deedee off as mean and selfish, or we can try to understand her. The second option would be more in the spirit of the novel.