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Tommy Barban
Dick and Nicole’s children. The Divers don’t spend all that much time with the children; a full-time staff cares for Lanier and Topsy, an arrangement that was quite normal for wealthy society at the time. Nicole suffered from a dark period of mental ill health after Topsy, her second child and only daughter, was born. Nicole has a detached relationship with the children, who are far closer with Dick. Lanier is an inquisitive and precocious young boy. He causes a great deal of trouble when the Divers go to visit Mary and her new husband, Hosain. Lanier claims to have been bathed in dirty bath water, contaminated by one of Hosain’s children, who is sick. Mary insists that this is impossible but Lanier, spoiled and entitled, continues to pursue his line of argument.
Lanier and Topsy Diver Quotes in Tender Is the Night
The Tender Is the Night quotes below are all either spoken by Lanier and Topsy Diver or refer to Lanier and Topsy Diver. 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:
).
Book 2, Chapter 10
Quotes
Dick, why did you register Mr. and Mrs. Diver instead of Doctor and Mrs. Diver? I just wondered—it just floated through my mind.—You’ve taught me that work is everything and I believe you. You used to say a man knows things and when he stops knowing things he’s like anybody else, and the thing is to get power before he stops knowing things. If you want to turn things topsy-turvy, all right, but must your Nicole follow you walking on her hands, darling?
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Book 2, Chapter 15
Quotes
She was laughing hilariously, unashamed, unafraid, unconcerned. No one coming on the scene would have imagined that she had caused it; she laughed as after some mild escape of childhood.
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Lanier and Topsy Diver Quotes in Tender Is the Night
The Tender Is the Night quotes below are all either spoken by Lanier and Topsy Diver or refer to Lanier and Topsy Diver. 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:
).
Book 2, Chapter 10
Quotes
Dick, why did you register Mr. and Mrs. Diver instead of Doctor and Mrs. Diver? I just wondered—it just floated through my mind.—You’ve taught me that work is everything and I believe you. You used to say a man knows things and when he stops knowing things he’s like anybody else, and the thing is to get power before he stops knowing things. If you want to turn things topsy-turvy, all right, but must your Nicole follow you walking on her hands, darling?
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Book 2, Chapter 15
Quotes
She was laughing hilariously, unashamed, unafraid, unconcerned. No one coming on the scene would have imagined that she had caused it; she laughed as after some mild escape of childhood.
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