This document includes hundreds of quotations from The Dream House, divided into themes and often annotated with additional information on the speaker, situation or possible uses of the quotation. This document is created by a top 1% English student.
The Dream House by Craig Higginson: Key Quotes by Character/ Theme
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St Mary's School, Waverley, Johannesburg
English
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The Dream House Quotes
Truth/perceptions
P + R in Durban: “they’ll each have a different view” – means literal view but also fig: diff.
perceptions
“At least – that is how she remembers it”
“the knowledge inside her eyes, smouldering like a fire” [Beauty] – B knows ‘truth’, has moral
authority: only character who doesn’t rly do anything wrong.
“she knows better than even Looksmart does”
“she says this as though the truth is a concept only children believe in, like dragons and houses
made out of bread and cake”
“she was slightly less than human” – how L thinks P saw Grace
“Power lies with those who withhold their information from others” – said by L but v true for B
“Sometimes, a small amount of truth is enough to satisfy a person’s appetite”
“But what I have told you is not the full story… It is only about what we saw. What about what we
didn’t see?” – L trying to tell her about rape, but it is foreshadowing: He ≠ know full story.
“the word ‘truth’ seems to surprise Beauty. Perhaps such a thing has never been asked of her
before”
“You do not know the truth” – B to L.
“She knows what he’s said, what he’s claimed as the truth”
“She finds she likes him for his lies far better than she likes him for his truths” – lied about roses.
Tells truth to hurt her, get revenge. Lies to comfort; they show he cares. Ironic – lies can be more
healing than truth.
“she knows now that Looksmart’s way of looking at him will be – at least in part – her way of
looking at him too.” – she has listened to L. He has changed her way of looking at things.
“the mystery that must run through all things” – we will never know the whole truth about
anything. Always mysteries.
“A figure coming towards them from a distance – a figure that is coming to invade their peace.” –
the truth
“It seems so sad now: the gaps that Looksmart carried away inside him, not even knowing they
were there.” – L doesn’t know that he doesn’t know the full truth
, “Looksmart is like a boy. In his heart. He will not be able to hear a thing like that.” – L is already so
traumatized, ≠ be able to handle the whole truth. B knows that – B is v wise.
“Looksmart has his own story” (P)
B: “you must find the truth for yourself” – link to SA: all ppl must find the version of the truth that
best allows them to rebuild themselves, move forward. No one truth.
Language/names/words
- Zulu: authentic, adds to unclarity, takes Eng speakers out of comfort zone
“Beau-ty!”- summoning, demeaning… “calling the girl like she’s calling one of her dogs”
“Bheki rarely speaks to her outside of what is practical”
“Speaking isiZulu is so much easier for her: it’s something she can slip into, like a song” – Zulu is
comfortable, gives her a kind of power over R. Says vile things about R (eg “pull up your zip”) in Eng
bc doesn’t want to associate his vulgarity w/ her language
“’Inyumba’ – the barren one” [Beauty]
“there were no more words to say to one another” – P + R at beach when first met
“with these words come hate itself” – words can bring emotions BUT… Bheki’s love for his son “goes
past the place where any words can reach” – words aren’t always as powerful as emotions
L is “indifferent to getting her language right” – L used to use language to please P, now wants to
rebel, show her he doesn’t care.
L to P: “You don’t even know my name!” … P: “I remember the exact moment your mother named
you Looksmart”
“My name is Phiwayinkosi”
L calling B “Togo”: “It takes her by surprise and wrenches something inside of her” – power of
names
“He felt even then that words were not to be trusted” … “It was the way words were used in the
world that made them, and those who relied too much on them, suspicious”
“the silence is roaring at them from its black throat” – how L saw it before he spoke the ‘double
beast’ speech
“they are mute with horror” – watching G being killed. No words, everyone robbed of language.
“For them [Bheki + L], English remains the language of lies and liars”
“a boy with too many words inside his head”
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