For Quoyle was a failure at loneliness, yearned to be gregarious, to know his company was a pleasure to others.
Quoyle knew how terrible a feeling of loneliness could be. He wasn’t that kind of a person who enjoyed solitude, for he was on his own for too long. Quoyle “was a failure at loneliness.” Friends, acquaintances, relatives and just usual human communication were the things that he wanted and valued. He “yearned to be gregarious.” So, for him, for a person who was convinced that he was unpleasant to talk to, “to know his company was a pleasure to others” was the biggest wish.
Everybody is dumb about some things.
Petal has never made a secret out of her hatred for poor Quoyle. As soon as the girls realize that their father is not going to listen to them and do what they want, they try to influence him by saying that Petal believes he is dumb. Contrary to their expectations, he reacts calmly and says, “everybody is dumb about some things.” The man doesn’t consider himself extremely clever, but these words show that this college dropout is naturally wise. For some people he might seem to be dumb with all that kindness and trust in people, but for him greediness and cruelty are the signs of dumbness.
For if Jack Buggit could escape from the pickle jar, if a bird with broken neck could fly away, what else might be possible?
Quoyle knew that people – even the nearest and dearest – could be rather cruel and merciless. He knew what real hardship was. But he also knew that if his friends, Jack, “could escape from the pickle jar, if a bird with broken neck could fly away,” then other miracles “might be possible” too. Quoyle managed to restore his broken life and started building a happy family with a woman he loved and who loved him back. No matter how dark his past was, the future could be bright and happy.
