How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
That Dick had married—married twice—and fathered three sons was something he envied. A wife, children—those were experiences a man ought to have […]." (2.66)
Even though he lives more or less outside of civilized society, Perry still hangs on to some of its values. You'd think his tortured family background might have changed his mind about that.
Quote #8
"When Alvin was sheriff, I know some of the boys teased him, Used to say, 'Lookayonder! Here comes Sheriff Dewey! Tough guy! Totes a six-shooter! But once he gets home, off comes the gun and on goes the apron!'" (2.92)
Another pretty securely masculine guy. A tough man can take the heat in the kitchen.
Quote #9
All the same, he was "a real man." He did things, did them easily. He could make a tree fall precisely where he wished. He could skin a bear, repair a watch, build a house, bake a cake, darn a sock, or catch a trout with a bent pin and a piece of string. (3.128)
This is Perry's sister talking about their father. Toughness, resourcefulness and action seem to be her definition of a real man, even though he wasn't much of a father. She tells Perry that he also has a lot of those skills, but he never did anything about them—he's just a dreamer.