This is home. There's nothing back there. It's all give away.
-- Papa (Part I)

Importance: Papa forces ConaLee and Eliza to give up their home, story, and life when he drops them off at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum at the start of the novel. By telling them that the Asylum is their new home, Papa is assuming power over their futures. He has indeed robbed them of their comfort, safety, and security, and therefore unleashes them into the unknown. His words instigate the novel's themes concerning home and identity, power and the past.

I wondered I could lie so well. A liar was evil. But all stories were lies and I knew so many.
-- Narrator (Part I)

Importance: ConaLee finds herself fabricating the story of her past life when she first arrives at the Asylum. Although Papa is no longer in her orbit, ConaLee realizes that she must assume control over her story in order to free herself...