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Meronym
Rufus Sixsmith is a supporting character in two stories, keeping up correspondence with Robert Frobisher in “The Zedelghem Letters,” then, many years later, acting as a source for the journalist Luisa Rey in “Half-Lives.” None of Rufus’s letters to Robert appears in the novel, although Robert occasionally references Rufus’s replies in his own letters. Rufus seems to worry about his friend Robert, but there’s nothing he can do to stop his friend from dying by suicide. Later in life, Rufus continues to be cautious, and he is one of the few people at Seaboard Power who realizes the danger of a proposed new nuclear plant. Rufus risks his own life to pass on this information to Luisa, and as a result, he ends up getting assassinated by Bill Smoke. Rufus’s life demonstrates how it is noble—but also dangerous—to put ideals ahead of greed.
Rufus Sixsmith Quotes in Cloud Atlas
The Cloud Atlas quotes below are all either spoken by Rufus Sixsmith or refer to Rufus Sixsmith. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
A telegram, Sixsmith? You ass.
Don’t send any more, I beg you—telegrams attract attention!
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She plays with that birthmark in the hollow of my shoulder, the one you said resembles a comet—can’t abide the woman dabbling with my skin.
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Chapter 3
Quotes
Robert Frobisher mentions a comet-shaped birthmark between his shoulder blade and collarbone.
I just don’t believe in this crap. I just don’t believe it. I don’t.
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He yanks the wheel sharply, and metal screams as the Beetle is sandwiched between his car and the bridge railing until the railing unzips from its concrete and the Beetle lurches out into space.
Chapter 10
Quotes
Time cannot permeate this sabbatical. We do not stay dead long. Once my Luger lets me go, my birth, next time around, will be upon me in a heartbeat. Thirteen years from now we’ll meet again at Gresham, ten years later I’ll be back in this same room, holding this same gun, composing this same letter, my resolution as perfect as my many-headed sextet. Such elegant certainties comfort me at this quiet hour.
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Rufus Sixsmith Quotes in Cloud Atlas
The Cloud Atlas quotes below are all either spoken by Rufus Sixsmith or refer to Rufus Sixsmith. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
A telegram, Sixsmith? You ass.
Don’t send any more, I beg you—telegrams attract attention!
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
She plays with that birthmark in the hollow of my shoulder, the one you said resembles a comet—can’t abide the woman dabbling with my skin.
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3
Quotes
Robert Frobisher mentions a comet-shaped birthmark between his shoulder blade and collarbone.
I just don’t believe in this crap. I just don’t believe it. I don’t.
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Explanation and Analysis:
He yanks the wheel sharply, and metal screams as the Beetle is sandwiched between his car and the bridge railing until the railing unzips from its concrete and the Beetle lurches out into space.
Chapter 10
Quotes
Time cannot permeate this sabbatical. We do not stay dead long. Once my Luger lets me go, my birth, next time around, will be upon me in a heartbeat. Thirteen years from now we’ll meet again at Gresham, ten years later I’ll be back in this same room, holding this same gun, composing this same letter, my resolution as perfect as my many-headed sextet. Such elegant certainties comfort me at this quiet hour.
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
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