How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[Herbert] enjoyed picking on Tom, who was small and shy and had no friends to stick up for him. (1.23)
Hmm, Herbert is seen as a bully from the beginning of the story; however, this is exactly what the town of London does (it picks on smaller towns) in order to survive. Would Darwin approve of bullying?
Quote #2
Melliphant's fist hit him on the side of the face and Melliphant's knee crashed up hard between his legs. (1.40)
Okay, this isn't exactly fighting fair, but was Tom's sucker punch that started the fight any nobler? Is one form of violence worse than any other?
Quote #3
[Hester] suddenly sprang forward, whipping out a long, thin-bladed knife. (2.42)
This image of Hester is startling similar to the image of a snake springing forward with its fangs bared. In the animal kingdom, violence is often the only way to solve a problem. When was the last time you saw a tiger and a zebra talk out a problem? Perhaps violence gets us in touch with our primal roots.