Double Dutch

“Titan and Tabu—tall and impressive-looking, dressed exactly alike in black jeans, black sweaters, and black skull caps—strode through the hall not as two people but as a unified force.”

This quote highlights the formidable presence of Titan and Tabu as they move through the school, emphasizing their strong bond and the way they present themselves as inseparable and intimidating. The dark clothing underscores their desire to create a dark and menacing exterior. Portraying them as a “force” rather than two distinct humans shows how the other students do not entirely see their humanity.

“He was trying to regain a little power, Delia realized. Yolanda had been way out of line. Randy’s mother had left her husband and her son a couple of years ago.”

This quote emphasizes Randy’s underlying abandonment issues and shows how hard it is to face familial instability in front of your school community. Draper indicates that Randy is sensitive about this issue and calling attention to it reduces his “power” in a social dynamic, showing how hard it is for him to admit the truth about his father throughout the novel.

“She had an excellent memory and could sometimes tell the teacher word for word what had been said in class the day before. But Delia couldn’t read.”

This is the first moment in the novel when Draper reveals Delia’s secret: She cannot read. Draper juxtaposes this admission against a reference to what Delia can do: She emphasizes her intelligence, her strong memory, and her ability to somehow perform well at school.