Question

Which sentences in this excerpt from Theodore Dreiser's "My Brother Paul" are examples of characterization that suggest Paul is a superstitious person?
Of all those who had been so lavish in their greetings and companionship earlier in his life, scarcely one, so far as I could make out, found him in that retired world to which he was forced. One or two pegged-out actors sought him and borrowed a little of the little that he had; a few others came when he had nothing at all. His partners, quarreling among themselves and feeling that they had done him an injustice, remained religiously away. He found, as he often told my sister, broken horse-shoes (a "bad sign"), met cross-eyed women, another "bad sign," was pursued apparently by the inimical number thirteen—and all these little straws depressed him horribly. Finally, being no longer strong enough to be about, he took to his bed and remained there days at a time, feeling well while in bed but weak when up. For a little while he would go "downtown" to see this, that and the other person, but would soon return. One day on coming back home he found one of his hats lying on his bed, accidentally put there by one of the children, and according to my sister, who was present at the time, he was all but petrified by the sight of it. To him it was the death-sign. Some one had told him so not long before!!!

Answer 1

Answer:

The sentences in this excerpt suggesting that Paul is a superstitious person are:

• He found, as he often told my sister, broken horse-shoes (a "bad sign"), met cross-eyed women, another "bad sign," was pursued apparently by the inimical number thirteen—and all these little straws depressed him horribly.
• One day on coming back home he found one of his hats lying on his bed, accidentally put there by one of the children, and according to my sister, who was present at the time, he was all but petrified by the sight of it. To him it was the death-sign. Some one had told him so not long before!

Explanation:

These excerpts show that Paul is a very superstitious person. The term "superstition" comes from the Latin "superstitio" and originates from what we believe from popular knowledge. It is a belief based on reason or knowledge, or something closely related to superstitious and magical behavior, linked to greater or lesser "luck" in a given situation.

Answer 2

He found, as he often told my sister, broken horse-shoes (a "bad sign"), met cross-eyed women, another "bad sign," was pursued apparently by the inimical number thirteen—and all these little straws depressed him horribly.

AND

One day on coming back home he found one of his hats lying on his bed, accidentally put there by one of the children, and according to my sister, who was present at the time, he was all but petrified by the sight of it. To him it was the death-sign.

These sentences characterize Paul as a superstitious person. A superstitious person is one who believes in things that are irrational. Some common superstitions are: a broken mirror equals 7 years of bad luck, or a black cat crossing one's path signals bad things are coming. In these sentences Paul believes things like broken-horse shoes, cross-eyed women, the number thirteen, and his hat lying on his bed all signal bad things are going to happen.