How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Nina compared her life to that of a sailor's wife: "a very uncertain and lonely" existence "without private means, miserably poor, especially with children." (12.3)
Many women felt similar to Nina at this time. Husbands weren't known to stay home, no matter what their professions were. But Nina's situation is exceptional, because Fawcett would be gone for months and months at a time. In our day, Grann's wife is probably a little glad that her husband is giving her some space for a while. Not that we're projecting or anything.
Quote #8
Returning to his home in England, he saw his wife and children on a regular basis for the first time in years. He was astonished by how much Jack had grown, how much bigger he was through his shoulders and around his arms. (17.29)
We would like to say that Fawcett's family is changing while the jungle he is spending time in remains the same. "The jungle can wait," we would say to Fawcett, if that were true. But while Fawcett's family is growing, the jungle is shrinking. In fact, its civilizations are in danger of disappearing entirely. Fawcett feels he has to sacrifice his own family to learn as much as he can about a set of vanishing cultures.
Quote #9
Part of [Nina] wanted to run away and escape all the sacrifices and burdens—but, she said, "the family needed me." (18.8)
Nina must do what Fawcett does not: stay with the family. The family needs her, but it doesn't really need Fawcett. Nina struggles, but in the end, she is able to get by without her hubby.