How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Part.Paragraph)
Quote #7
To fashion, to give form, to feel his fingers gaining in skill and power—this gave him an extraordinary pleasure. "A, B, C, Vitamin D," he sang to himself as he worked. "The fat's in the liver, the cod's in the sea." And Mitsima also sang—a song about killing a bear. They worked all day, and all day he was filled with an intense, absorbing happiness. (8.52)
Notice that John can only really find satisfaction in labor. The same is true in Chapter 18; it is not until he busies himself with fashioning tools that he becomes happy.
Quote #8
Helmholtz listened to his boastings in a silence so gloomily disapproving that Bernard was offended.
"You're envious," he said.
Helmholtz shook his head. "I'm rather sad, that's all," he answered. (11.20-2)
Why is Helmholtz sad here? Does he realize that Bernard has gone the way of the weak-willed? Or is he merely self-pitying?
Quote #9
The days passed. Success went fizzily to Bernard's head, and in the process completely reconciled him (as any good intoxicant should do) to a world which, up till then, he had found very unsatisfactory. In so far as it recognized him as important, the order of things was good. But, reconciled by his success, he yet refused to forego the privilege of criticizing this order. For the act of criticizing heightened his sense of importance, made him feel larger. (11.24)
It becomes clear that Bernard's dissatisfaction was actually a shallow worry; his desire, at the end of the day, was really just to be accepted. Helmholtz, on the other hand, nurses a grievance that runs much deeper.