Quotes

• "You two go on as if you believe if you don't grab everything, then you'll lose it...You'll regret it. in my view" (pg. 15) - This quote is like a foreshadow.Dorothy says since they're rushing into getting everything they want, they'll eventually lose it. It comes true because after Ben is born the family loses their happiness.
  
• "He knew what he wanted, and the kind of woman he needed. If Harriet had seen her future in the old way, the man would hand her the keys to his kingdom." (pg. 8) - This quote informs us about how Harriet and David wanted and old style life. They would not except anything different than that, like Ben.
• " Sarah and Williams unhappiness, their quarreling, had probably attracted that mongol child." (pg. 22) - Harriet said that Amy is a mongol and Sarah is unlucky to have a child like her. This foreshadows how Harriet will have a child worse then Amy, Ben.
• "This afflicted Harriet with remorse: poor Ben, whom no one could love. She certainly could not! And David, the good father, hardly touched him." (pg. 22) - Harriet and David did not love Ben showing they were bad parents. Although Harriet claimed she did not love Ben she did try to connect with him and teach him things. Whereas on the other hand David made no effort at all, failing as a father.
• "No he's not," David said finally."Well, he certainly is not mine." (pg.74) - In the beginning of the novel David is portrayed as a good, loving father. This quote shows us how David was not what they showed him as in the beginning. If he did not get something his way he would not accept it. David was stubborn.
• "Her heart was hurting as it would for one of her own." (pg. 83)- This quote proves that although Harriet claimed she did not love Ben she truly did. She could not stop herself from going back to the institution to save Ben.
• " In that case I shall assume the responsibility for the mortgage." (pg. 14)- David's father, James, financially supported Harriet and David. Without him they would not have been able to afford anything. It also shows us that even if they could not afford having kids they still would have had them because they were both stubborn and urging for an old style life.
• "It's because you don't want to. It's not you who is carrying this----" She cut off monster." (pg. 47)- Harriet did not love Ben from the start because he acted different in her womb then her previous kids. She refuses to believe he is normal just because it's not the way she expected her pregnancies to turn out. This quote shows us how Harriet was not willing to accept that Ben might be normal because of the movements he made inside her stomach.
• " He sat shivering, like a wet, cold dog, in spasms, and he went through a series of movements, unconsciously, the vestiges of reactions from that time. A hand went up to shield his face, and he looked through the spread fingers as if this hand could protect him." (pg. 102)- The author describes Ben like this after Harriet threatens to take him back to the institution. Although Ben was a strong person he was scared of that place, being away from his home, his family. I believe Ben does love his family even though they mistreat him.
• "Now, whenever she heard of a break-in, or a mugging, or a rape anywhere, she blamed them." (pg. 128)- This quote tells us that Harriet always wants to see the bad side in Ben. She's always watching television or reading the paper to see if Ben had done something wrong. It shows us that she has no faith that Ben can do something good.