ASSIGNMENT

Pg.100 ~ 101

“You think were going to die, dont you?
I don’t know.
We’re not going to die.
Okay.
But you dont believe me.
I dont know.
Why do you think we’re going to die?
I dont know.
Stop saying I dont know.
Okay

…

Do you think I lie to you?
No.
But you think I might lie to you about dying.
Yes.
Okay. I might. But we’re not dying.
Okay.”

When I read this part, I felt that their conversation was too short, rigid, and emotionless. The man usually speaks in a worried tone and speaks long sentences but his son only answers his father by simply saying, ‘okay, I don’t know, yes, no’ . It surely was not a typical kind of a conversation that is expected from a father and a son relationship. Most children in the boy’s age usually like to talk and ask many questions to their parents about all the things they are curious at. This often bothers them that they often get tired of answering the questions ‘Why?’ from their kids and start quibbling about saying ‘Just because’. However, it’s the other way around in this story.
I suppose the man is eager to tell his son only about the bright side of the miserable world they are living in that he often exasperates.
On the other hand, the boy has grown in the apocalyptic world having irritating experiences every single day since he was young. He barely has any hope in his mind. I don’t think that the boy actually gets encouraged by his father’s words. Instead, He mechanically follows his fathers intentions.
Pg.113

‘Shh. No crying. Do you hear me? You know how to do it. You put it in your mouth and point it up. Do it quick and hard. Do you understand? Stop crying. Do you understand?’

This part made me feel really sad. He is telling his own son to commit suicide when the cannibals come to get him. The man may seem brutal to people who haven’t read this book but I can understand him. There are cannibals looking for human beings to feed on and it is one of the most terrible things that could happen to you. The author well described how a father’s showing of affection toward his child could look like in an extreme situation like this.

Pg.144

‘What woke the boy was him grinding coffee in a small hand grinder. He sat up and stared all around. Papa? He said.
Hi are you hungry?’

This scene is the most beautiful part of this book until pg 150 in my perspective. Finally they came to find a nice place with proper foods (although they are preserved instant foods). The man seems very calm and comfortable. I’ve never seen him behaving like this. This scene is so beautiful.