Important quotes in literature accompany important
moments, the moments that reveal character, drive conflict, produce climax, support
resolution. So what you are really asking is "What are some important moments in the
novel?" The novel is structured in three sections: (1) Gilbert's frame introducing Helen
Graham/Huntingdon; (2) Helen's diary of her marriage; (3) Helen's return to Grassdale
Manor and Huntingdon and all that occurs thereafter. Each section will have pivotal
quotations that mark them as important.
One moment that
has importance in the first section is the seemingly innocent event of a visit to
Helen's home. It is here that Gilbert accompanies Rose on a call to Helen and much is
learned about her painting. She paints for profit, not amusement, as her paintings are
sold in London. She signs false initials. It is also here that the plot is furthered
because Gilbert and we learn that she ascribes a false location to hide both her
location and identity (incidentally, a bold statement is made for someone in hiding and
for someone else to gloss over as though unnoticed):
'I have friends ... from whom I desire my present
abode to be concealed; and as they might see the picture, and might possibly recognise
the style in spite of the false initials ...[I] give a false name to the place also ...
if they should attempt to trace me out by it.’
In the second section,
Helen's diary, the explanation of her disastrous marriage and its horrible effects upon
the child is an important moment. One of the important quotes is the brief one that
describes the child: "where [Arthur] was sitting half-tipsy, cocking his head and
laughing at me, and execrating me with words he little knew the meaning
of."
The third section presents us with the important
resolution and the falling action leading up to it. An important quotation form this
section involves the Christmas rose and Gilbert's, finally, successful suit for Helen's
hand in marriage. Huntingdon has died and been buried. Helen's uncle has left her his
estate where she lives with her aunt. Gilbert has sought her out under the mistaken news
that she is being married to Hargrave. Gilbert and Helen establish that their feelings
have not altered, and Helen says:
‘This rose is not so fragrant as a summer
flower, but it has stood through hardships none of them could bear: ... the keen frost
has not blighted it. Look, Gilbert, it is still fresh ... with the cold snow even now on
its petals.--Will you have it?’
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