How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.
Quote #1
Well, he’s seen a peck of trouble, one thing after another…Oh, Bill…if you see my boy smoking cigarettes, just give him a word, will you? He thinks a lot of you, Bill. (I.427)
Mr. Webb justifies Simon Stimson’s drinking problem with the knowledge that his life has had a lot of problems. He wants to make sure that his son doesn’t fall into a similar pattern of substance abuse.
Quote #2
I guess I know more about Simon Stimson’s affairs than anybody in this town. Some people ain’t made for small-town life. I don’t know how that’ll end; but there’s nothing we can do but just leave it alone. (I.390)
No one seems to know how to help Simon Stimson.
Quote #3
But, Julia! To have the organist of a church drink and drunk year after year. You know he was drunk tonight. (I.371)
The small town gossip revolves around Simon, the town drunk.
Quote #4
SAM CRAIG: He was organist at church, wasn’t he? – Hm, drank a lot, we used to say.
JOE STODDARD: Nobody was supposed to know about it. He’d seen a peck of trouble. Behind his hand. Took his own life, y’know?
SAM: Oh, did he?
JOE Hung himself in the attic. They tried to hush it up, but of course it got around. He chose his own epy-taph. You can see it there. It ain’t a verse exactly.
SAM: Why, it’s just some notes of music – what is it?
JOE: Oh, I wouldn’t know. (III.58-65)
Simon’s suicide coupled with his alcoholism shows that there were heavier issues in his life than most other people knew about or, as the music notes suggest, could even understand.