Ambrose Small Character Analysis in In the Skin of a Lion

Millionaire Ambrose Small is characterized by his rapacious attitude toward business and, in general, toward life. He believes that everything can be bought and discarded, even his romantic relationships. At the end of his life, his lover Clara Dickens realizes that he has kept to himself many of his secrets and has displayed a façade of indifference that is not necessarily in line with his actual emotions.

Ambrose Small Quotes in In the Skin of a Lion

The In the Skin of a Lion quotes below are all either spoken by Ambrose Small or refer to Ambrose Small. 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:

The Working Class vs. the Rich Theme Icon

).

I loved the piano. It was something to get lost in. My exit, my privacy. He had his money, gambling, he had his winning elsewhere. I had my radio work and my piano. Everyone has to scratch on walls somewhere or they go crazy. And you?

Related Characters: Clara Dickens (speaker), Patrick Lewis, Ambrose Small

Page Number and Citation: 70

Explanation and Analysis:

Patrick believed in archaic words like befall and doomed. The doom of Patrick Lewis. The doom of Ambrose Small. The words suggested spells and visions, a choreography of fate. A long time ago he had been told never to follow her. If Patrick was a hero he could come down on Small like an arrow. He could lead an iguana on a silver leash to its mistress.

Related Characters: Patrick Lewis, Clara Dickens, Ambrose Small

Page Number and Citation: 83

Explanation and Analysis:

Come on, Patrick, of course some make it. They do it by becoming just like the ones they want to overtake. Like Ambrose. Look at what he became before he disappeared. He was predatory. He let nothing cling to him, not even Clara.

Related Characters: Patrick Lewis, Alice Gull, Clara Dickens, Ambrose Small

Page Number and Citation: 123

Explanation and Analysis:

Ambrose Small Quotes in In the Skin of a Lion

The In the Skin of a Lion quotes below are all either spoken by Ambrose Small or refer to Ambrose Small. 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:

).

I loved the piano. It was something to get lost in. My exit, my privacy. He had his money, gambling, he had his winning elsewhere. I had my radio work and my piano. Everyone has to scratch on walls somewhere or they go crazy. And you?

Related Characters: Clara Dickens (speaker), Patrick Lewis, Ambrose Small

Page Number and Citation: 70

Explanation and Analysis:

Patrick believed in archaic words like befall and doomed. The doom of Patrick Lewis. The doom of Ambrose Small. The words suggested spells and visions, a choreography of fate. A long time ago he had been told never to follow her. If Patrick was a hero he could come down on Small like an arrow. He could lead an iguana on a silver leash to its mistress.

Related Characters: Patrick Lewis, Clara Dickens, Ambrose Small

Page Number and Citation: 83

Explanation and Analysis:

Come on, Patrick, of course some make it. They do it by becoming just like the ones they want to overtake. Like Ambrose. Look at what he became before he disappeared. He was predatory. He let nothing cling to him, not even Clara.

Related Characters: Patrick Lewis, Alice Gull, Clara Dickens, Ambrose Small

Page Number and Citation: 123

Explanation and Analysis: