How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
But either because the rains had given a freshness or because the sun was shedding a most glorious heat, or because two of the gentlemen were young in years and the third young in spirit—for some reason or other a change came over them, and they forgot Italy and Botany and Fate. They began to play. Mr. Beebe and Freddy splashed each other. A little deferentially, they splashed George. He was quiet: they feared they had offended him. Then all the forces of youth burst out. He smiled, flung himself at them, splashed them, ducked them, kicked them, muddied them, and drove them out of the pool (12.27).
Here, youth is seen as almost a mystical energy. It possesses Freddy, Mr. Beebe, and even the serious George, and the way Forster describes it, it’s as though the powers of youth are unstoppable. Apparently, boys (and clergymen) just wanna have fun.
Quote #8
"It is being young," he said quietly, picking up his racquet from the floor and preparing to go. "It is being certain that Lucy cares for me really. It is that love and youth matter intellectually" (16.29).
Youth, for George, is incredibly important. It gives him a kind of confidence and certainty, as though being young gives one the right to pursue happiness. In this book, and in life (or so we like to think) it does – it just takes Lucy a while to figure this out.
Quote #9
Waste! That word seemed to sum up the whole of life. Wasted plans, wasted money, wasted love, and she had wounded her mother. Was it possible that she had muddled things away? Quite possible. Other people had (19.16).
Lucy feels her youth start to slip from her grasp as she wonders if everything has gone to waste. Youth, as we see in the last quote, is confident in itself – perhaps too confident – until it’s too late, and opportunities for happiness have passed. We already have an dreadful example of someone who “muddled things away,” Charlotte Bartlett.