Skin Hunger: A Resurrection of Magic Isolation Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"If Somiss is right, if magic can be resurrected," Franklin said, "there is no reason for anyone to be poor, or hungry, or to die young, or to suffer too much with age. And if I am right about silent-speech, war and fighting, even murder, would disappear if men truly understood one another's hearts." (11.56)

The way Franklin talks about social ills as being caused by lack of understanding and connection between people makes a lot of sense. Since we humans can never really see inside each other's heads or hearts, we're all isolated from one another. And it's a heck of a lot easier to kill or maim someone whom you perceive to be different or apart from you than someone with whom you feel a kinship or likeness.

Quote #5

All her life she had wanted to be like everyone else, a girl with a mother, with a father who spoke and smiled and let her have friends, a girl who had no secrets to keep. Now she only wanted to go where someone understood her. (13.10)

When Sadima is about to leave her home, it's because she realizes that she wants to be understood. Keeping her abilities a secret is hard to live with, and she hopes that by going to find Franklin in Limòri, it'll end the feeling of isolation that she's experienced ever since she realized she was different.

Quote #6

If she could just be near him, if she could talk about her whole self, her real thoughts, instead of pretending to be like everyone else, she would be happy. (19.18)

Sadima latches onto Franklin like a drowning kid onto a lifeguard. He represents the possibility of true understanding, which she's never experienced in her life. He knows what it's like to be different from everyone else due to some rare innate ability, and so he knows what she's gone through. No wonder she starts to fall in puppy-love with him.