How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
As they paced around the deck for the first time, Lefty and Desdemona were still brother and sister. The second time, they were bride and bridegroom. And the third, they were husband and wife. (1.4.46)
This is a story that really redefines family (and twists the roots in a family tree). How does Lefty and Desdemona's relationship change as a result of their union? What kind of family do they create?
Quote #2
"Marriage is for housekeeping and for children." (2.1.119)
Jimmy Zizmo has a, how shall we say, traditional view of the family dynamic. He believes that he should bring home the bread and the woman should pop out children. It's no wonder Lina is kind of glad when he's gone.
Quote #3
Because Lina was an exhibitionist, Tessie had become a voyeur. Because Lina was loud, Tessie had turned out quite. (2.5.61)
Tessie seems to want to do everything the complete opposite way of her mother. What about you? How are you like your mother, and how are you different?
Quote #4
All humankind has existed in miniature since Creation, in either the semen of Adam or the ovary of Eve, each person tucked inside the next like a Russian nesting doll. (2.7.7)
We want to say something clever about this, but we can't get cleverer than Eugenides here. (We just used the word "cleverer" so we're scraping the bottom of the barrel.) All we have to add is, we are family.
Quote #5
"Now we have to move in with Milton." (2.7.55)
This family sticks together, even when they're to blame for each other's problems. Milton kicks Lefty out of the house, Lefty starts gambling and loses all his money, Desdemona and Lefty have to move in with Milton—these family problems go full circle.
Quote #6
"You're a lot smarter than most of my sister's friends."
"You're a lot smarter than most of my friends' brothers." (3.8.221-3.8.222)
Calliope and Jerome's banter is playful bordering on flirty. We're pretty sure Calliope wishes she were flirting with the Object instead, but her brother will have to do. The family resemblance is uncanny. It's not quite John and Joan Cusack, but it's close.
Quote #7
"Most guys wouldn't be so happy to find out that they'd been two-timed by a lesbian with their own sister." (3.10.106)
Jerome clearly has a problem here, but what is it? Is he defending his sister? Is he homophobic? Is he still angry about his bad dye job? The issues are endless with this kid.
Quote #8
Tessie was dreaming a family dream. A version of the nightmares Desdemona had after listening to Fard's sermons. (4.1.199)
Maybe it's because Tessie and Desdemona are the women of the family, but they feel the weight of their family's problems on their shoulders. And boy, does the Stephanides family have problems. Tessie's deltoids must be super huge from holding all that weight up.
Quote #9
I like to think that my father's love for me was strong enough that he could have accepted me. But in some ways it's better that we never had to work that out, he and I. (4.6.99)
It's pretty sad that Cal has to rationalize this after his father's death. Do you think Milton ever would have accepted him? Maybe Milton's death was a good thing after all.
Quote #10
"Call me whatever you want."
"How about 'bro'?"
"Fine with me." (4.7.33-4.7.35)
Chapter Eleven treated Calliope like a brother anyway, so this change from calling her sister to brother doesn't really redefine the family. In fact, it might allow Chapter Eleven to behave more like himself around his "new" brother.