"'On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand, may seize
And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin'" (144).
John often recites lines from Shakespeare to himself, drawing from the verses inspiration and strength. The words of Shakespeare have always served as a comfort to John, either on the Reservation or in London. When John struggles for words, he uses Shakespeare to explain his thoughts and feelings. He does this throughout the end of the novel, further alienating himself from others. People do not understand Shakespeare since they have never been exposed to his work, so they find the John's words strange and incomprehensible. John's love and understanding of Shakespeare further illustrates his individuality and his inability to fit into society. Although John sees the words of Shakespeare as inspirational, others cannot comprehend the meaning of the verses. The words from which John draws strength also cause him to become more separated from society, but the reader finds him more poetic and complex. The reader is probably familiar with Shakespeare and would find it shocking that classics like Shakespeare have been hidden from the people of London. The reader would also see that John is capable of understanding the deep emotions and themes within Shakespeare, making him more interesting to the reader.
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