How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"I'll sing in the dark," Roxane Coss called out, "if someone will get me a candle." (1.20)
Our Shmoop Metaphor Detector is going crazy here. This is one of those lines that tells us something about the whole book. Roxane thinks she's just responding to a temporary power outage here, but as everyone knows by now, the mansion is about to be taken over by terrorists. So what she's saying here is foreshadowing the whole story, which is all about making something beautiful out of a seemingly terrible situation. That's what the characters are doing when they find the courage to dream, hope, and plan in a tough situation.
Quote #2
It was as if a white light filled up the priest's chest, a hot sort of brightness that made his eyes water and his heart beat like a desperate man pounding on the church door at night. Had he been able to lift up his hands to touch her he could not be sure he could have stopped himself. But it didn't matter. He was paralyzed by her voice, the music of speaking, the rhythmic loops of the names that passed through her lips, into the phone, and then into Manuel's ear some two miles away. The priest knew then for sure that he would survive this. That there would come a day when he would sit at Manuel's kitchen table in his small apartment cluttered with music and they would shamelessly recount the pleasure of this exact moment. He would have to live if only to have that cup of coffee with his friend. And while they would remember, try to place in order the names that she spoke, Father Arguedas would know that he had been the more fortunate of the two because it was he whom she had looked at when she spoke. (5.103)
Father Arguedas is an intriguing character because he sees what is unique and in some way wonderful in the world created by the crisis, but he also hopes for something back in the real world. Maybe that's because he has a clear and satisfying role out there. He may not be famous or powerful, but he has real commitments to the people in his church and real friendships with them, as well as a clear role as their priest. That may be why it's easier for him to transition into his post-crisis life than for someone like Mr. Hosokawa, who comes to feel that his pre-hostage role in life was somehow stunted and unsatisfying.
Quote #3
The priest knew he committed the sin of pride and still he was overjoyed at having been able to play a role in bringing in the music. He was still too dizzy from the sound of Roxane's voice to express himself properly. He looked to see if the windows were open. He hoped that Manuel had been able to hear a line, a note, from where he stood on the sidewalk. What a blessing he had received in his captivity. The mysteries of Christ's love had never been closer to him, not when he said the mass or received communion, not even on the day he took holy orders. He realized now he was only just beginning to see the full extent to which it was his destiny to follow, to walk blindly into fates he could never understand. In fate there was reward, in turning over one's heart to God there was a magnificence that lay beyond description. At the moment one is sure that all is lost, look at what is gained! (5.196)
Oh hayyy, Shmoop Metaphor Detector. This section may be explained in religious language, but it's describing more than just Father Arguedas' experience. Most of the characters in the book come to feel that the horrible, sinking feeling they had when they realized they were stuck in a hostage crisis ended up opening up an experience of art and exploration beyond description.