Can't Let Go

It's been a while since Pearl died and Quoyle still can't seem to get over it. There always seems to be something that reminds him of Pearl, whether it be one of his daughters, Wavey, or a random person on the street. I understand that it is probably hard for him to forget about her since she was his first love and the mother of his children, but I feel like he needs to forget about her so that he can move on with his life. She caused him so much pain and hurt during their years together, which is why it seems ironic that he is affected so much by her death.
He is constantly comparing people to Pearl, especially Wavey, which makes me think that he is trying to hold on to her. His comparisons show that he really loved her and still does even after all of the heartache and trouble she put him through.

"He thought of Petal in her dress with fringe, the long legs diving down to slippers embroidered with silver bugles, Petal, darting around in a cloud of Trésor, shooting glances at her reflection in mirror, toaster, glass, flicking her fingers at Quoyle's openmouth desire. He felt a pang for this poor moth." (151)
A woman named Dawn came over to his house for dinner, and once he sees her he instantly thinks about Petal.

"Quoyle chopped at his secret path to the shore. Read his books. Played with his daughters. Saw briefly, once, Petal's vanished face in Sunshine's look. Pain he thought erupted hot. As though the woman herself had suddenly appeared and disappeared. Of course she had, in a genetic way. He called Sunshine to him, wanted to take her up and press his face against her neck to prolong the illusion, but did not." (148)
This passage shows that he really does miss her because he sees Petal in Sunshine's face and he wishes it were really her. I thought it was surprising that he wanted to "prolong the illusion" considering all of the things she did to him.

"Just to see the way she walked, a tall woman who walked miles. And Petal had never walked if she could ride. Or lie down." (129)
This quote shows Quoyle's bitter feelings towards Petal, and how much he envies a woman that is so different from her, Wavey.