How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Of all the things I'd ever done, making Senora laugh seemed the most important. It was, I reflected, the only thing that gave my life any purpose. (4.81)
As the dog's idea of his purpose develops, this early conception seems quaint by comparison. It's even a little sad, since the dog sees no value in himself as he is; he only cares about making people happy. Does that core value ever change?
Quote #5
At once, everything was both strange and familiar. (5.1)
The reincarnation process is strange, although in a book narrated by a dog, we guess anything goes. The dog gets used to it pretty quickly, but he's also used to his own life being entirely out of his control.
Quote #6
My purpose, my whole life, had been to love him and be with him, to make him happy. I didn't want to cause him any unhappiness now—in that way, I decided it was probably better than he wasn't here to see this, thought I missed him so much at that moment the ache of it was so bad as the strange pains in my belly. (17.63)
Again, the dog puts the feelings of humans over his own feelings. He wants to die without Ethan seeing him, so as not to cause Ethan any stress, but he doesn't understand that Ethan might want to say goodbye. Also, is it possible that the dog is overestimating the amount of stress he might cause Ethan? Ethan may be upset, but the death of the dog isn't going to change his life that much.