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The Narrator
Previously the greatest fencer in Italy, the major’s hand has shrunk down to the size of a baby’s following a wartime injury. He receives treatment from the machines next to the narrator. Though the major humors the doctor’s optimism about his chances for recovery, he confesses to the narrator that he has no confidence in the machines’ ability to heal him. He also tells the narrator he does not believe in bravery and teaches him Italian grammar so that he can communicate more naturally. Later, after his young wife dies suddenly of pneumonia, the major angrily tells the narrator not to marry, and that men should never put themselves in a position to lose anything. Afterward, he apologizes for his rudeness and bears his tears with “soldierly” dignity. He spends his subsequent treatment sessions staring out of the window.
The Major Quotes in In Another Country
The In Another Country quotes below are all either spoken by The Major or refer to The Major. 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:
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In Another Country
Quotes
The major came very regularly to the hospital. I do not think he ever missed a day, although I am sure he did not believe in the machines. There was a time when none of us believed in the machines, and one day the major said it was all nonsense.
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If he is to lose everything, he should not place himself in a position to lose that. He should not place himself in a position to lose. He should find things he cannot lose.
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He looked straight past me and out through the window. Then he began to cry. "I am utterly unable to resign myself,” he said and choked. And then crying, his head up looking at nothing, carrying himself straight and soldierly, with tears on both his cheeks and biting his lips, he walked past the machines and out the door.
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When he came back, there were large framed photographs around the wall, of all sorts of wounds before and after they had been cured by the machines. In front of the machine the major used were three photographs of hands like his that were completely restored. I do not know where the doctor got them. I always understood we were the first to use the machines. The photographs did not make much difference to the major because he only looked out of the window.
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The Major Quotes in In Another Country
The In Another Country quotes below are all either spoken by The Major or refer to The Major. 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:
).
In Another Country
Quotes
The major came very regularly to the hospital. I do not think he ever missed a day, although I am sure he did not believe in the machines. There was a time when none of us believed in the machines, and one day the major said it was all nonsense.
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Explanation and Analysis:
If he is to lose everything, he should not place himself in a position to lose that. He should not place himself in a position to lose. He should find things he cannot lose.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
He looked straight past me and out through the window. Then he began to cry. "I am utterly unable to resign myself,” he said and choked. And then crying, his head up looking at nothing, carrying himself straight and soldierly, with tears on both his cheeks and biting his lips, he walked past the machines and out the door.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
When he came back, there were large framed photographs around the wall, of all sorts of wounds before and after they had been cured by the machines. In front of the machine the major used were three photographs of hands like his that were completely restored. I do not know where the doctor got them. I always understood we were the first to use the machines. The photographs did not make much difference to the major because he only looked out of the window.
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