Brian Redfield Quotes Flashcards
What did Brian say to Irene about her husband?
“Her husband silenced her.”
How does Brian’s desire for change impact Irene?
“Stealing away from the sense of security.”
What is Brian’s increasing inclination?
“Increasing inclination to tear himself and his possessions loose.”
What did Brian say about limiting expectations?
“Don’t expect me to give up everything.”
What is Brian’s view on understanding race?
“If I knew that, I’d know what race is.”
How does Irene describe Brian’s attractiveness?
“Brian, she was thinking, was extremely good-looking. Not, of course, pretty or effeminate; the slight irregularity of his nose saved him from the prettiness, and the rather marked heaviness of his chin saved him from the effeminacy. But he was, in a pleasant masculine way, rather handsome. And yet, wouldn’t he, perhaps, have been merely ordinarily good-looking but for the richness, the beauty of his skin, which was of an exquisitely fine texture and deep copper color?”
What is Brian’s view on sex and humor?
“Well, what of it? If sex isn’t a joke, what is it? And what is a joke? …The sooner and the more he learns about sex, the better for him. And most certainly if he learns that it’s a grand joke, the greatest in the world. It’ll keep him from lots of disappointments later on.”
What realization does Irene have about her role in Brian’s life?
“Brian. What did it mean? How would it affect her and the boys? The boys! She had a surge of relief. It ebbed, vanished. A feeling of absolute unimportance followed. Actually, she didn’t count. She was, to him, only the mother of his sons. That was all. Alone she was nothing. Worse. An obstacle.”
What is Brian’s perspective on parenting and racism?
“You know as well as I do, Irene, that it can’t. What was the use of our trying to keep them from learning the word ‘nigger’ and its connotation? They found out, didn’t they? And how? Because somebody called Junior a dirty nigger.”
