Principles Quotes in Serena

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"I done explained the science behind it, same as I explained what darksomeness can do to a man," Snipes said, sighing deeply. "It's ever been the way of the man of science or philosophy. Most folks stay in the dark and then complain they can't see nothing." (19.32)

The workers understand that sometimes the evil in the world is perpetuated by all of us. That's what they mean here by "stay[ing] in the dark." We'd also like to point out that the workers have the most principles out of anybody—they know what the dark looks like because they're in the light.

Quote #5

"Your wife and that henchman of hers thought she'd tell them where the Harmon girl and her child were. That's what I think. They went to the girl's cabin first. The door was wide open this morning, and I know for a fact it was fastened last night. Cigarette butts by the barn as well. Only I don't know which one they were after." McDowell paused. "Which one was it, the child or the mother? Or was it both?" (26.10)

McDowell reports this crime to Pemberton, trying to measure the guy's reaction. It's clear Pemberton wasn't the murderer, but that doesn't mean he wasn't involved. McDowell tries to do things with his principles in tact, but as we see here, it often doesn't get him anywhere.

Quote #6

"We've both killed now," Serena said urgently. "What you felt at the depot, I've felt too. We're closer, Pemberton, closer than we've ever been before." (28.8)

Serena's comment to her hubby about killing Widow Jenkins is creepy, almost like she's trying to bond with him over murder. We know before this that she doesn't have any principles, but we never thought she'd use throat slashing as a romantic gesture. Did anyone else just get chills?