How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
He saw close to him the white-bearded face of that neighbour, who said to him in German, "Excuse me, young gentleman—allow me—what is your parentage—your mother's family—her maiden name?"
Deronda had a strongly resistant feeling: he was inclined to shake off hastily the touch on his arm; but he managed to slip it away and said coldly, "I am an Englishman." (32.29-30)
It really stinks for Daniel to be asked about his family background when he doesn't even know what that background is. What is interesting about this moment is that the stranger who approaches him seems to ask Daniel about his background because Daniel seems to resemble someone he knows – otherwise, why would he ask? It's almost as though the man knows the answer before he asks the question, which is more than Daniel knows about himself.
Quote #5
But immediately the strange Jew rose from his sitting posture, and Deronda felt a thin hand pressing his arm tightly, while a hoarse, excited voice, not much above a loud whisper, said—
"You are perhaps of our race?"
Deronda coloured deeply, not liking the grasp, and then answered with a slight shake of the head. "No." The grasp was relaxed, the hand withdrawn, the eagerness of the face collapsed into uninterested melancholy, as if some possessing spirit which had leaped into the eyes and gestures had sunk back again to the inmost recesses of the frame; and moving further off as he held out the little book, the stranger said in a tone of distant civility, "I believe Mr. Ram will be satisfied with half-a-crown, sir." (33.21-23)
Again, Daniel finds himself in the awkward situation of having to explain who he is without actually really knowing. The man in the shop finds it totally possible that Daniel could be Jewish. The topic of identity always strikes a sore spot with Daniel, though. He's disappointed that Daniel denies being Jewish – though, we have to keep in mind, Daniel has no idea what his background actually is.
Quote #6
[Daniel] thought he had found a key now by which to interpret [Gwendolen] more clearly: what magnifying of her misery might not a young creature get into who had wedded her fresh hopes to old secrets! He thought he saw clearly enough now why Sir Hugo had never dropped any hint of this affair to him; and immediately the image of this Mrs. Glasher became painfully associated with his own hidden birth. (36.24)
Daniel's uncertain family background starts to color the way he understands other people. Lydia Glasher's illegitimate children remind him of himself and one of the possible explanations of his own backstory.