People throw away everything in the United States. Even things that are still perfectly good.
-- Driver (Alma, 3 paragraph 14)

Importance: Early on in the novel, Alma learns just how truly wealthy even the poorest Americans are. They throw away perfectly good things, like a television set, in favor of newer and more expensive models. This speaks volumes about the potential America holds for many immigrants in terms of hopes for achieving financial stability.

My wife, Celia, saved my life. Who knows what would have become of me if I hadn’t met her?
-- Rafael (Rafael Toro, 19 paragraph 3)

Importance: Rafael explains that his life was going nowhere until he met Celia. Because of her, he went back to work and got his life in order to marry her. Because she saved his life, Rafael goes above and beyond in order to provide for her and give her the life she wants so she doesn’t have to work, and so their...