The Sieve and the Sand

     My favorite scene in The Sieve and the Sand is the scene where Mildred's friends come over to gossip. Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles both bring up important issues for this book.
     Mrs. Phelps says, "The Army called Pete yesterday. He'll be back next week. The Army said so. Quick war. Forty-eight hours, they said, and everyone home. That's what the Army said. Quick war. Pete was called yesterday and they said he'd be back next week. Quick..." This quote shows that in this society, war has become nothing important. It is quick and easy. No one worries about it.
     Mrs. Bowles says, "I've had two children by Caesarian section. No use going through all that agony for a baby. The world must reproduce, you know, the race must go on. Besides, they sometimes look just like you, and that's nice. Two Caesarians turned the trick, yes, sir. Oh, my doctor said, Caesarians aren't necessary; you've got the hips for it, everything's normal, but I insisted." "I plunk the children in school nine days out of ten. I put up with them when they come home three days a month; it's not bad at all. You heave them into the 'parlor' and turn the switch. It's like washing clothes: stuff laundry in and slam the lid. They'd just as soon kick as kiss me. Thank God, I can kick back!" The first thing this shows is that society had stopped caring about children. This also shows how everyone lives "comfortably". Mrs. Bowles doesn't want to go through pain so much that she has Caesarians. She also shows how vain she is because she wants her children to look like her so much.