How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Time came, though, he began thinking what it would be like to have real Holstein cows in a barn with a cement floor like Massey's. It started him thinking about how poor they were. He noticed the way his mother had to work to keep things going, even as thin as their way of living was. (2.8)
Tom is inspired to better his family's life by observing his mom's hard work to keep the family afloat. He also observes that his neighbors, the Masseys, don't have to struggle as much, so he sets his mind to improving his family's way of life. He's only 8 when he starts dreaming and planning.
Quote #2
[Bert Breen's barn] looked to him as sound as it must have been the day it was built, and he began thinking how it would be if he could buy it and move it down to their own place by the river below Fisk Bridge. He knew, though, there wasn't any sense in thinking of it. He didn't have any money at all. None of his family had any. Just the same he knew exactly where he would set it up if he did have it. But that was crazy too. How was a kid going to move those timbers down seven miles of road? Let alone taking them apart and putting them up again if it came to that? (5.9-10)
When Tom first sees the Breen Barn, he's only 13 and the idea of converting his dream into reality seems as likely as reality TV swearing off the drama. There's money involved and also hard manual labor—pretty serious roadblocks. It seems now would be a good time for someone to drop the wise words of Theodore Roosevelt "Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty." Fun fact: Teddy would have been starting his presidency (from 1901-1909) around the time the novel was set.
Quote #3
"Looks like your life is about to change. Looks like you're going to quit your schooling and make some money. Not a great lot of it," she added, to Tom's disappointment. She dealt out some more cards. "But there's quite a lot of money here later on. You ain't going to go around like a low-down Dolan any more." (6.24)
Mrs. Breen sees a better life in the cards for Tom. The weird thing is Tom's already considered how school might not be the best use of his time, and he's even talked with Birdy about plans for improving his family's property. In fact, the whole reason he meets Widow Breen is because he goes up to her land with Birdy to look at the barn. Still, he's really swayed by what Mrs. Breen has to say. Why does he seem to need this push from fate to believe in his dreams?
Quote #4
All of a sudden Tom realized that it might be possible for him to buy the Breen place. Three years of taxes wouldn't amount to over thirty dollars. He didn't want that land, but if he had to buy the land to get hold of his barn, he would do it. (26.23)
Tom's saving and planning is starting to pay off, and what seemed totally far-fetched for a poor thirteen-year-old boy now seems like it just might work out. Tom sees how the progress he's achieved so far is making the dream come into reach.
Quote #5
It's not as if it was bad news, Tom. Like for instance, you losing your job with Ackerman and Hook. That's a real thing and your idea about the barn and getting it for taxes was a dream you'd worked out. I'm not saying it wasn't a good plan. It was, I guess. But it depended on might-have-beens, and might-have-beens ain't things to grieve for unless you want to roll in pity for yourself. (32.29)
Here, Polly Ann talks with Tom after he gets the disappointing news that someone else has purchased the Breen property. She tells him to focus on practical things rather than hopes and dreams. She's not trying to be a dream-crusher; this is a woman who's had to be practical for herself, for the useless men in her life, and for three kids. It's no wonder she doesn't entertain pie-in-the-sky hopes and dreams. She's been too busy working her butt off.
Quote #6
You hadn't ought to get discouraged, Tom. Sure, it seems bigger than you thought, now you've learned what it takes to get a thing done. But, Tom, you got this idea about the Breen barn three years ago. You've never let go of it. You were a dreamy young boy then, and it seemed as long as you wished something it would surely be. Now you're sixteen. You've changed. You're big as some men are. Strong, too. And you've been growing up inside. But, Tom, that idea was good. It would be a sin to give it up because it looks some harder. That idea was what started you doing things, like working for Ackerman & Hook, like fixing up our house. It's not only been good for you, it's been so for the girls and me, and we are proud of you. (34.6)
Could the cynical Polly Ann be coming around to the idea of believing in dreams after all? When Polly Ann sees that Tom's dream is coming true, her pep talk shows a change in tone. Even if she's never been the dreamer he is, she offers support when Tom feels overwhelmed by the process of moving the barn he's finally purchased. She also demonstrates how Tom's dream hasn't only positively affected Tom: it's changed those around him for the better, too.
Quote #7
[Massey] led Tom into the barn to get them, and Tom looked enviously at the two lines of big Holstein cows in their iron stanchions, standing on the concrete floor. He wouldn't be able to afford anything like that for a long time. But when Massey said, "I hear you've got a real good barn," he agreed. (45.4)
Material items are like Oreos. Once you have one, you want more. Tom even expresses this very idea later on in the book when he thinks, "it seemed that when you had a thing you wanted, it always led you on to wanting one thing more" (58.8). Striving is good, but characters like Mr. Massey, Polly Ann, and Birdy remind Tom to be appreciative of what he has and be patient in his plans for getting more. Tone down the greed, Tommy Boy.
Quote #8
[Tom] said he wanted to start getting better cows than their little Swiss ones, and how he had to find a team of horses and a lumber wagon and some machinery.
"With more cows, you're going to need more land," Mr. Hook said.
There was a piece along the river, Tom told him, in front of their place, near eighteen acres. It belonged to Walt Sweeny, but he hadn't worked it for years. Tom figured to buy that to start with. He'd offer eight, maybe ten, dollars an acre, which was a good price. (60.10-12)
Tom continues to make plans to improve life for his family even after he moves his barn. Achieving one dream can push you to want to achieve more. You don't want to let that momentum make you greedy, but you should let it continue to inspire you to make good, practical plans.
Quote #9
I want to make the Dolan place a paying farm. When it does pay, I'm going to put our name up on the barn, DOLAN FARM. Up to now, nobody, Hannaberrys nor Dolans, ever did a lick of work if they could help it. Except Ma. I want people to start thinking different. (60.15)
Being your own boss on your own property is a pretty central symbol of the American dream, and Tom is that dream personified. On top of the property thing, he wants to change the way others view his family. Does that mean Tom's dream is motivated by anger toward his father and grandfather? Or would you describe his motivations in a different way?
Quote #10
It wasn't her barn now. It was his—absolutely. He didn't have to go around like a low-down Dolan any more. It came suddenly into his mind that the Widow Breen had told that to him long ago. (63.31)
This is the last line of the novel, and it comes when Tom is admiring his barn on his property. He thinks back to meeting the Widow Breen and how she read his cards. Why is there a return to the idea of fate in the last line? Has fate had a role in Tom achieving his dream?