How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"'Teach me to keep off envy's stinging'—that's all part of past years now. I love Wales, but it doesn't love me. Megan's full of envy because she's respectable and I'm not." (15.49)
Here is Howl's explanation for why his sister Megan can't stand him: she's jealous because Howl does not have to live Megan's ordinary, workaday life in our world, and instead he gets to be a magician in the magical land of Ingary.
While it is unclear exactly how much Megan might know about Howl's other life (we're guessing it's not too much), we can sympathize with her situation. If we had to keep doing our everyday jobs while our siblings went off to become witches and wizards in a faraway land, we'd probably be pretty eaten up with envy, too.
Quote #8
Calcifer emerged from between his logs in a long thread of blue flame. "As ready as I shall ever be," he said. "You know this could kill me, don't you?"
"Look on the bright side," said Howl. "It could be me it kills. Hold on tight. One, two, three." He dug the shovel into the grate, very steadily and slowly, keeping it straight and level with the bars. (17.10-11)
The real issue in the relationship between Calcifer and Howl is that it is not one of choice. They may have chosen to enter into their initial contract, but they didn't understand what their agreement would really mean to them in the long run, and now their lives are tied to one another in ways they can't do anything about. And it leaves both of them vulnerable. Just trying to move Calcifer could kill Howl, and we don't know what would happen to Calcifer if Howl dies while they are still bonded.
Quote #9
Seeing her own old home this way was giving her fearsome mixed feelings. "I think it's all very nice," she said.
"Really?" Howl said coldly. His feelings were hurt. He did so like to be appreciated, Sophie thought, sighing, as Howl went to the castle door and turned the knob to purple-down. On the other hand, she did not think she ever praised Howl, any more than Calcifer, and she wondered why she should start now. (17.45-46)
We can already see the signs of the kind of family that Sophie and Howl are going to have once they officially get together here. While Sophie is sensitive to Howl's moods, she doesn't give in to them ("she wondered why she should start [praising him] now"). And Howl is genuinely concerned about Sophie's opinion of what he's done (even if he shows that concern in the most childish ways).