1. The book is narrated in the second person, addressing the main character, Jacob, as “you.” Who is speaking? Why do you think the author chose this mode to tell the story? I think Jacob is speaking through us because of the use of “you.” I think the author chose this mode because it helps us understand the book more. It helps us connect more to Jacob and what he goes through. 2. When Jacob is called to take care of Clytie, he has a very hard time pulling the trigger. Look at the passage (p. 49) in which he has to convince himself to kill her. Why does he agonize when he knows it’s the right thing? What does it mean that he’s “still clinging to some dream of innocence, blamelessness”? Does he continue to cling to that dream later in the story?
He agonizes because he doesn’t want to take her life because she is still human. Even when she’s sick. He’s still clinging to the thought that he’s doing the right thing. He doesn’t. 3. Why does Jacob elect to bleed and treat the bodies of some victims, even after Doc has told him not to, and even though he knows he’s putting himself in danger? Why is precision and diligence so important to him even when everyone around him is worried only about survival?
He wants to try and help as much as possible. He made a promise to God during the war that he would do that.
1.) Jacob Hansen is the man narrating the story, but it differs at times. He plays the role as the preacher, the sheriff and the undertaker of the community so in different times in the novel he’s speaking from those three perspectives. I feel the author used 2nd person to keep the reader engaged and feel like a part of the actual story. It adds a personal touch to the novel. 2.) Jacob agonizes because he doesn’t want to shoot Clytie but he has to put her out of her pain. By clinging to this concept of innocence and blamelessness he means that he doesn’t want to feel responsible for the deaths so he would rather focus on blamelessness rather than guilt. He does continue to cling to that dream throughout the story. 3.) He’s so worried about precision and diligence because he takes his job so seriously. Everyone around him is only worried about survival but he’s a man of honor and his outlook on death varies from the majority of the community.
1) The book is to old through a second-person narrative likely to involve the reader more closely in the events as they occur. All of the characters thus far have been introduced with little to no description to their appearance (clothing being the exception) and with an aura of familiarity about them. The narrator talks as though he has known these people all of his life, so it may be typical for the reader to substitute these characters for people they actually know or imagine an appearance for them. This is done with the narrator as well, portraying the character as 'you', giving him a back story, and thus making a closer involvement with the story. 2) Jacob likely doesn't want to feel responsible for the death of something or someone else, as he had for three years in the war. Despite it being the right thing to do, he continues to blame himself for it, and clings to the hope that he may be able to forgive himself. 3) He's dedicated to the idea that by caring for others he can retain a sort of strength that will allow him to carry on under God's guidance. Everyone else seems content with being alive, but Jacob, as stated in the book, clearly cares more for the dead in his time being surrounded and scarred by their presence.
1. The book is narrated in the second person, addressing the main character, Jacob, as “you.” Who is speaking? Why do you think the author chose this mode to tell the story?
ReplyDeleteI think Jacob is speaking through us because of the use of “you.” I think the author chose this mode because it helps us understand the book more. It helps us connect more to Jacob and what he goes through.
2. When Jacob is called to take care of Clytie, he has a very hard time pulling the trigger. Look at the passage (p. 49) in which he has to convince himself to kill her. Why does he agonize when he knows it’s the right thing? What does it mean that he’s “still clinging to some dream of innocence, blamelessness”? Does he continue to cling to that dream later in the story?
He agonizes because he doesn’t want to take her life because she is still human. Even when she’s sick. He’s still clinging to the thought that he’s doing the right thing. He doesn’t.
3.
Why does Jacob elect to bleed and treat the bodies of some victims, even after Doc has told him not to, and even though he knows he’s putting himself in danger? Why is precision and diligence so important to him even when everyone around him is worried only about survival?
He wants to try and help as much as possible. He made a promise to God during the war that he would do that.
1.) Jacob Hansen is the man narrating the story, but it differs at times. He plays the role as the preacher, the sheriff and the undertaker of the community so in different times in the novel he’s speaking from those three perspectives. I feel the author used 2nd person to keep the reader engaged and feel like a part of the actual story. It adds a personal touch to the novel.
ReplyDelete2.) Jacob agonizes because he doesn’t want to shoot Clytie but he has to put her out of her pain. By clinging to this concept of innocence and blamelessness he means that he doesn’t want to feel responsible for the deaths so he would rather focus on blamelessness rather than guilt. He does continue to cling to that dream throughout the story.
3.) He’s so worried about precision and diligence because he takes his job so seriously. Everyone around him is only worried about survival but he’s a man of honor and his outlook on death varies from the majority of the community.
1) The book is to old through a second-person narrative likely to involve the reader more closely in the events as they occur. All of the characters thus far have been introduced with little to no description to their appearance (clothing being the exception) and with an aura of familiarity about them. The narrator talks as though he has known these people all of his life, so it may be typical for the reader to substitute these characters for people they actually know or imagine an appearance for them. This is done with the narrator as well, portraying the character as 'you', giving him a back story, and thus making a closer involvement with the story.
ReplyDelete2) Jacob likely doesn't want to feel responsible for the death of something or someone else, as he had for three years in the war. Despite it being the right thing to do, he continues to blame himself for it, and clings to the hope that he may be able to forgive himself.
3) He's dedicated to the idea that by caring for others he can retain a sort of strength that will allow him to carry on under God's guidance. Everyone else seems content with being alive, but Jacob, as stated in the book, clearly cares more for the dead in his time being surrounded and scarred by their presence.