How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
But Henry did not want to start. He looked to see how much money he had. Then he stood thinking.
At last he said, "I don't want to leave you girls alone." (3.39-3.40)
Henry sees himself as his family's protector—at least of the girls. Notice that he doesn't mention Benny, the youngest Alden, who is a boy. It's the girls he doesn't want to leave.
Quote #2
Henry said, "Today I'll go to town and try to get some work to do. I can cut grass or work in a garden or something. Then we'll have something besides milk for breakfast." (5.8)
Providing, like protecting, is another traditionally masculine role that Henry takes on. Fingers crossed he succeeds.
Quote #3
"This will be my pink cup," said Benny. (5.36)
Benny is just 5 years old, so he's not quite old enough to eschew "girl stuff" like pink cups. Does the author think girly things are childish? Or, does she think that boys don't learn to dislike pink until they're old enough to worry about how other people perceive them? Over to you, Shmoopers.
Quote #4
"I bought another loaf of brown bread at the store," said Henry, "and some more milk. Then I bought some dried meat, because we can eat it in our hands." (6.2)
Henry always brings home the food. Jessie always prepares it. It's a division of labor that's literally never discussed.
Quote #5
"If there is someone out in the woods, he knows that there is a dog in this boxcar," said Henry.
He took the new broom in his hand and waited. (6.67-6.68)
Henry and Jessie both admit they're frightened, but Henry is the one who picks up a weapon. Why is it his responsibility to be the family's protector?
Quote #6
Then he picked over the things and put the tools in the toolbox and the nails in the nail-box. This was fun for Henry, because he liked to get things in order. (7.49)
Jessie and Henry both like putting things in order. But where Henry orders "manly" things like the contents of a garage, Jessie organizes things like dishes and food.
Quote #7
Violet and Benny carried the stones, with the help of the cart. Now and then Henry was called on to help with a heavy stone. (8.12)
One of Henry's attributes is his strength. We don't hear much about Jessie lifting heavy stones.
Quote #8
"Oh, Jessie!" cried Benny. "This is the best meal I ever ate. I found the eggs, and you cooked them." (8.53)
Though Benny is just 5 years old, he's already internalized that boys are providers and girls are cooks. As modern-day readers, we can't help but cringe a little.
Quote #9
Now J. H. Alden liked boys. He liked to see them running and jumping and playing. So each year, with three other rich men, he gave a Field Day to the town of Silver City. (10.2)
Between all of those boys and rich men, it sounds like Field Day is a bit of a boys' club, eh?
Quote #10
All the children shouted when they saw Benny's room. The wallpaper was blue. […] There was a rocking horse and a tool box and little tables and chairs. (13.9)
Violet's room is decorated with flowers and "soft things," while Benny's room has tools and is—of course—blue. We think kids these days might blow Warner's mind.