How we cite our quotes: (Page)
Quote #4
It didn't matter to me that he had probably killed the woman he loved. How had he found love itself? How had he pulled that off? And had love made him become someone else, or, as I suspected, had love suddenly appeared once he took on a new identity? (276)
The Interrogator is a card-carrying member of the Lonely Hearts Club, and it seems that the only confession he's really interested in from Impostor Ga is how to pick up girls. But in all seriousness, this is less about love and more about having a personality, an identity to offer another person. Without that—since the Interrogator is really without identity—he understands that he will never be able to make someone love him.
Quote #5
Around Sun Moon, blossoms open, the petals spreading wide to reveal hidden pollen pots. Commander Ga dripped with sweat, and in his honor, groping stamens emanated their scent in clouds of sweet spoor that coated our lovers bodies with the sticky seed of socialism. Sun Moon offered her Juche to him, and he gave her all he had of Songun policy. (292)
Wow, where to start with this one? First, we can tell that the author was having a super sweet time writing this passage. The Propaganda Boys' version of Impostor Ga and Sun Moon making love is working overtime on the communist metaphors, showing that even the most intimate of moments can be co-opted by the state. The high ridiculousness of the euphemistic language shows how ludicrous it is to control every part of an individual citizen's life. Not to mention that it makes for really bad fiction.
Quote #6
"She's read every word I've written," he said. "That's the truest way to know the heart of another. Can you imagine it, Ga, if that syndrome is real, an American in love with me? Wouldn't that be the ultimate victory?" (330)
The Dear Leader confesses his "feelings" for the captive American rower and hopes that Stockholm syndrome is a real thing. Johnson depicts Kim Jong Il as a delusional schoolboy who flatters himself at every opportunity, completely and deliberately oblivious to the world outside of North Korea. His idea of love is equally without basis in reality: the American rower is being forced to transcribe his works during her captivity. She has no choice in the matter. If he's waiting for Stockholm syndrome to kick in, he better have a sackful of patience.