How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"No wonder Marcao was bitter and angry. Every one of her six children reminded him that his wife was sleeping with another man." (9.67)
Was Marcao bitter and angry because his wife was betraying him, or was he bitter and angry in the first place? He seems like he was pretty unhappy before he was married; you could even say that's why he got married. Is presenting him as a solved riddle fair to him? Is attributing his rage entirely to Novinha fair to her?
Quote #5
"The rules must be adapted to the strength of the Filhos de Mente," the Ceifeiro explained. "No doubt there are some that can share a bed and remain celibate, but my wife is still too beautiful, and the lusts of my flesh too insistent." (10.86)
The Filhes's chaste marriage has a number of parallels in the book—Ender's relationship with Valentine, Ender's relationship with Jane, Ouanda and Miro, and even Novinha and Marcao. Love without sex in the service of community is something of an ideal for Speaker.
Quote #6
Miro: The piggies call themselves male, but we're only taking their word for it.
Ouanda: Why would they lie?
Miro: I know you're young and naïve, but there's some missing equipment. (13.3-5)
Miro and Ouanda are joking about knowing about sex, which is ironic because they don't know anything about sex in their own families. Humans lie about sex a bunch; the piggies don't really, though. Maybe missing the equipment is conducive to truthfulness.