How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The father tended to the cattle. First he lifted the yoke off the oxen and turned them loose; then he milked Rosie and let her go also. After that he made up a bed for the whole family under the wagon. (1.1.3.3)
At this early point in the book, we learn that Per Hansa will always take it on himself to look after his family. This habit sometimes becomes annoying for his wife Beret, though, who'd happily take on more responsibility if she could have more of a say in her future.
Quote #2
Now he saw what the dream had meant that he had had the other night; he had seen both Joseph and Benjamin playing just beyond the house; and with them had been a tiny little fellow, who wasn't mentioned in the Bible story! (1.5.3.9)
Store-Hans has a dream about a story from the Bible, but he doesn't understand why there's an extra boy who's not mentioned in the Bible story. It's only after he finds out his mom's pregnant that he realizes the extra boy must be his new sibling.
Quote #3
But now dinner was ready. In came two little boys, with ruddy, beaming faces, just like their mother's; it seemed to Per Hansa as if he would never tire of looking at them. (1.5.5.16)
When things are looking up for the Hansa family, Per Hansa can't imagine life being any better. It's these rare moments when every individual in his family is happy that he has to savor, because there will be some tough times ahead.
Quote #4
"A dandy boat this is going to make for the little fellow to rock in!... Now he can come along any time!" (1.5.5.21)
When Per Hansa travels into town for lumber, many of us might think he's getting ready to build a house that's nicer than his neighbors'. But Hansa puts aside his competitiveness for the good of his new baby. He wants to use the lumber for a crib instead of his house.
Quote #5
"Huh! […] He could keep his wife and youngsters; but the cow he would have to forfeit eventually, if he couldn't raise other means… Business was business!" (1.5.5.35)
The man in town jokes that Per Hansa won't have to give up his family to pay his debts. But he will have to let go of his cow if he doesn't come up with some money. It's nice to know that even on the frontier, people respect family members enough not to buy and sell them.
Quote #6
The switch whizzed and struck; shrieks of pain arose. The boys at once stopped fighting and gazed horror-stricken at their mother; they could not remember that she had ever laid a hand on tem before. (1.5.6.39)
We know the prairie is getting to Beret when she beats her sons with a stick. This behavior would have been unthinkable back at their home in Norway. But the stress of living on the open prairie is weighing so heavily on Beret that she is acting drastically and hurting her relationship with her sons.
Quote #7
"Oh, pshaw! […] That was only Hans and me fighting!" (1.5.8.8)
When Per Hansa sees the cuts and bruises on them, Store-Hans and Ole just say they were fighting. They are protecting their mother Beret, even though she is responsible for the cuts and bruises. This gesture goes to show that the boys feel deep loyalty to their mom even though she hits them.
Quote #8
Beret must try to imagine how lonesome she was, sitting at home all alone with that useless husband of hers—and no little newcomer to wait for! (1.6.3.19)
Even though Beret feels sorry for herself, Kjersti wants to remind her that things could always be worse. At least Beret has children to care for. All Kjersti can do is sit around all day with no one to care for, either because her husband won't have sex with her or because one of them is infertile. The book never makes the thing clear.
Quote #9
Per Hansa stood for a long time looking at his wife, hardly daring to believe what he saw. She slept peacefully; a small bundle lay beside her, from which peeped out a tiny, red, wrinkled face. (1.6.12.1)
After Per Hansa's new baby is born, the man can't believe that everything has worked out. He was certain that either the baby or Beret was going to die during the birth. But it looks as though fate has a different plan for them.
Quote #10
To him she was still the delicate child that needed a father's watchful eye. To desire her physically would be as far from his mind as the crime of incest. (2.4.7.3)
Once Beret goes through her mental decline, Per Hansa stops thinking of her as a lover. In his mind, Beret is more like a child or a sister. This development is unfortunate, because Beret still loves Hansa deeply (as a lover).