How I Learned to Drive

by

Paula Vogel

Male Greek Chorus Character Analysis

The male Greek chorus plays a host of male characters whose remarks have embedded themselves in Li’l Bit’s psyche. For example, the male chorus takes on the role of her grandfather, Big Papa, who makes jibes about the size of her breasts and dismisses her wish to get a good education. The male chorus also plays a disapproving waiter serving food and margaritas to Li’l Bit when she is taken out for a meal by Uncle Peck to celebrate passing her driving test. The waiter overlooks her underage drinking in exchange for a big tip, entrenching an idea of male cooperation when it comes to the objectification of women. The other voices that the male chorus puts on represent boys at Li’l Bit’s high school, who obsess over the size of her breasts and tease her for appearance.

Male Greek Chorus Quotes in How I Learned to Drive

The How I Learned to Drive quotes below are all either spoken by Male Greek Chorus or refer to Male Greek Chorus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Gender and Misogyny Theme Icon
).
How I Learned to Drive Quotes

MALE GREEK CHORUS. (As Grandfather.) How is Shakespeare going to help her lie on her back in the dark? (Li’l Bit is on her feet.)

LI’L BIT. You’re getting old. Big Papa. You are going to die —v ery very soon. Maybe even tonight. And when you get to heaven, God’s going to be a beautiful black woman in a long white robe. She’s gonna look at your chart and say: Uh-oh. Fornication. Dog-ugly mean with blood relatives. Oh. Uh-oh. Voted for George Wallace. Well, one last chance: If you can name the play, all will be forgiven. And then she’ll quote: “The quality of mercy is not strained." Your answer? Oh, too bad — Merchant of Venice: Act IV, Scene iii. And then she’ll send your ass to fry in hell with all the other crackers. Excuse me, please.

Related Characters: Li’l Bit (speaker), Male Greek Chorus (speaker), Li’l Bit’s Grandfather (speaker)
Page Number: 14-15
Explanation and Analysis:
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Male Greek Chorus Quotes in How I Learned to Drive

The How I Learned to Drive quotes below are all either spoken by Male Greek Chorus or refer to Male Greek Chorus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Gender and Misogyny Theme Icon
).
How I Learned to Drive Quotes

MALE GREEK CHORUS. (As Grandfather.) How is Shakespeare going to help her lie on her back in the dark? (Li’l Bit is on her feet.)

LI’L BIT. You’re getting old. Big Papa. You are going to die —v ery very soon. Maybe even tonight. And when you get to heaven, God’s going to be a beautiful black woman in a long white robe. She’s gonna look at your chart and say: Uh-oh. Fornication. Dog-ugly mean with blood relatives. Oh. Uh-oh. Voted for George Wallace. Well, one last chance: If you can name the play, all will be forgiven. And then she’ll quote: “The quality of mercy is not strained." Your answer? Oh, too bad — Merchant of Venice: Act IV, Scene iii. And then she’ll send your ass to fry in hell with all the other crackers. Excuse me, please.

Related Characters: Li’l Bit (speaker), Male Greek Chorus (speaker), Li’l Bit’s Grandfather (speaker)
Page Number: 14-15
Explanation and Analysis: