The Waves Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"I will not conjugate the verb," said Louis, "until Bernard has said it. My father is a banker in Brisbane and I speak with an Australian accent. I will wait and copy Bernard. He is English. They are all English. Susan's father is a clergyman. Rhoda has no father. Bernard and Neville are the sons of gentlemen. Jinny lives with her grandmother in London." (1b.55)

Here, Louis gives us a helpful overview of everyone's origins and tunes us into one of his major preoccupations: the fact that his father is (wait for it)... Australian. Wait, what's the scandal? Even though an Australian accent is awesome, Louis is mortified by it.

Quote #2

"My uncle is the best shot in England. My cousin is Master of Foxhounds." Boasting begins. And I cannot boast, for my father is a banker in Brisbane, and I speak with an Australian accent." (2b.3)

Poor Louis is still feeling pretty down about his accent and the fact that his father is a banker… particularly when he has to endure a train ride with a bunch of boys boasting about how their fathers are masters of the universe.

Quote #3

"Bernard has gone," said Neville, "without a ticket. He has escaped us, making a phrase, waving his hand. He talked as easily to the horse-breeder or to the plumber as to us. The plumber accepted him with devotion." (2b.56)

On a later train ride, Bernard chats with working class people (e.g., plumbers and horse-breeders), which Neville seems to find oddly fascinating