This quote from Donna Tartt's "The Goldfinch" subtly illustrates the clash between modern conveniences and more traditional ways of life. The narrator's inquiry about the washing machine is met with a reaction that implies how foreign or antiquated the request seems to Mrs. Barbour. Her comparison to "lye and lard to boil up for soap" evokes an image of old-fashioned, labor-intensive methods of cleaning—methods that starkly contrast with the simple push-button technology of the washing machine. This reaction can be viewed as emblematic of deeper themes that permeate the novel, such as the tension between past and present or progress and tradition. It also reflects how personal backgrounds and environments shape one’s worldview. Mrs. Barbour’s look conveys a mixture of incredulity, nostalgia, or maybe even judgment, highlighting how certain advances are taken for granted by some but remain alien or even baffling to others. On a broader level, this moment encourages reflection on how technology alters human interactions, rituals, and the passage of daily life. The washing machine, mundane to many, here stands as a symbol of change—the inevitable and sometimes uncomfortable change that challenges established norms and identities. This small exchange enriches our understanding of characters’ perspectives and the subtle emotional landscapes they inhabit in their social and cultural environments.