How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
He struggled and shouted so much that they loosened his bonds and helped him to his feet, but when he attempted to leave he saw that the windows had been bricked in from outside and that the door was locked. They tried to explain to him that things had changed and that he was no longer the patrón, but he refused to listen. (12.54)
Esteban's not used to being the one with his hands tied. His physical constraints lead us to think of the invisible constraints that have held back his tenants – constraints like poverty, ignorance, lack of education, and no power to change their situation.
Quote #5
The curfew lasted for two days, which to Alba seemed an eternity. On the radio they played martial music, and on television they showed only landscapes from around the country and cartoons. (13.35)
One of the first acts of the new military government is to establish a two-day curfew, confining the citizens to their homes. The curfew might be considered both a demonstration of the military's power as well as a means of control.
Quote #6
Despite the order to shoot anyone who ventured outside, Senator Trueba crossed the street to attend a celebration in his neighbor's house. The hubbub of the party did not concern the soldiers patrolling the streets because it was a neighborhood where they expected no opposition. (13.35)
The fact that Esteban Trueba can violate the curfew with impunity is indicative of his status, and of the fact that the true purpose of the curfew is to neutralize any opposition the military might encounter.