How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"He's a good animal. […] Not happy about being in this damn cage, but he's resigned to it, and he's no longer angry. Let's see if he's hungry." (2.24.16)
Dad is talking about a cheetah here, but he's also talking about himself. At this point, he has resigned himself to having a job and being "caged" by the Man. Eventually, he thinks he'll break out. But we should note that unlike a wild animal, Dad isn't able to actually care for himself in the wild.
Quote #8
"I'm not upset because I'll miss you," Mom said. "I'm upset because you get to go to New York and I'm stuck here. It's not fair." (3.26.23)
Mom doesn't realize that she is only "stuck" because she chooses to stay with Dad. She would have a little more freedom if she would try to make it on her own.
Quote #9
"I think that maybe sometimes people get the lives they want." (4.3.18)
Jeannette starts an argument with her college professor, saying that homeless people maybe want to be that way. From her personal experience, that's kind of true: her parents chose to be "free" instead of finding jobs. And homeless is where it got them.