How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"To choose!" cried Giovanni, turning his face away from me and speaking, it appeared, to an invisible ally who had been eavesdropping on this conversation all along. "To choose!" He turned to me again. "Ah, you are really an American. J'adore votre enthousiasme!" (1.2.105)
Why does Giovanni mock David's belief in one's ability to choose? Is it fair for him to associate David's belief with his being an American? Do Americans over-estimate the power they have to choose the fate of their lives? If so, how so? If not, why not?
Quote #5
But I could not be certain, really, that it might not be I who was making a mistake, blindly misreading everything – and out necessities, then, too shameful to be uttered. I was in a box for I could see that, no matter how I turned, the hour of confession was upon me and could scarcely be averted; unless of course, I leaped out of the cab, which would be the most terrible confession of all. (1.3.18)
Reading this passage, we already know what is going to happen. For that reason, David's denial seems paper-thin. Perhaps, though, it is only the fact that things have become clarified in his memory. Perhaps at the time David actually had convinced himself that he didn't want to sleep with Giovanni. Does David have a choice other than going home with Giovanni or getting out of the cab? Is there any choice he could make that would deny or hide the fact that he is attracted to Giovanni?
Quote #6
Those evening were bitter. Giovanni knew that I was going to leave him but he did not dare accuse me for fear of being corroborated. I did not dare tell him. Hella was on her way back from Spain and my father had agreed to send me money, which I was not going to use to help Giovanni, who had done so much to help me. I was going to use it to escape his room. (2.1.4)
In the next quote, when David hears from Hella, he feels as if the "necessity of decision" has been taken from his hands. When does David make his decision to leave Giovanni? Does he ever make it? Why does he conceal the decision from Giovanni? What does he have to gain from waiting? How could he tell him if he were to tell him in the present?