Throughout the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer, the reader is immediately focused upon the fact that Oskar is searching for the lock that corresponds to the key he finds. It is also important, however, to look at how the key is found.
While tragedy obviously has a negative impact on our lives, it is also true that good can come from it. The tragic death of Oskar's father seems to ruin Oskar's life at the time, yet from his death, Oskar is able to become closer to his mother and grandmother, and is able to understand his own life better. In the case of finding the key, the tragedy is clearly represented by Shakespeare's books which Oskar stacks under him in order to reach the blue vase. Although Shakespeare's tragedies are not able to support Oskar for very long, without them, he would have never discovered the key and ventured off on the journey to ultimately find himself.
Another detail which can be pulled from this scene is Oskar's curiosity. Ever since September 11th, he is attempting to find deeper reasons behind his father's death. He is so intent of finding answers that he actually searches too hard, and seems to overlook the bigger picture. However, due to his overwhelming curiosity and attention to detail, Oskar is, in fact, able to discover the big picture. It begins when he notices every single detail in his father's closet, from the tuxedo still lying on the chair to the "pretty blue vase" (Foer 37) being hidden on the top shelf. Even though the shelf is over Oskar's head, he does not give up and makes sure that he gets to the top, simply to see that pretty vase. By doing this, Oskar discovers the key, which will lead him on the journey to find the meaning in his own life.
Finally, this even is foreshadowing the outcome of Oskar's quest. The key is discovered by chance. Oskar's father dies by chance. Just because Oskar finds a random key sitting in a closet, it does not mean that he will find the lock it belongs to and open up the secrets to his life. The same goes for the death of Oskar's father; there is no deeper meaning - he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some believe there is no particular reason behind anything's occurrence; things simply happen. Foer is foreshadowing that Oskar will never actually find what he is looking for, because what he is looking for does not exist.
6 comments:
I find your last paragraph particularly interesting. Normally I do believe that there are things that happen by chance but I also believe that things usually happen for a reason. So although you say that Oskar is searching for something that does not exsist with the key, which I agree with, I believe his father's death did happen for a reason. The reason would be so that Oscar could search for something and eventually discover things about his past and himself.
Your response was very thorough and I like the addition of the picture, which helps catch the readers' eyes. The way you started off with a general observation of tragedy from the novel and then branched off into a smaller example that others may not have seen was a great way to begin the discussion. Overall this was very interesting and creative.
Thanks, Sweeney Todd Inc! I actually struggled with the idea of tragedy, flip-flopping between whether it could produce good, or if the books were simply foreshadowing something negative, like when Oskar falls. I was able to form a stronger argument supporting the former, so that is what I posted. Our class discussion today introduced a slew of various interpretations of the topic. Some completely contradicted my opinion, while others went right along with it. It is so interesting to see how others interpret one thing so differently!
I agree with the fact that the tragedies helped Oskar find the key which symbolized all of his pain and agony. If Oskar had not grown from his pain, he may have never found the key that unlocks the lock.
I also believe that the man he gets the key from is very peculiar because Oskar and him share many similarities. Both lost their fathers, and both were looking for each other. I really connected with your ideas, and I truly relate with your idea that Shakespeare's tragedies (symbolizing Oskar's pains) helped him find that key.
Tator:
You have definitely posted a valid point, however, did Oskar's father die just so that Oskar could venture off on this journey to find himself, or was this simply the result of his father's death? Had Oskar's father been around to fully raise him and send him off on his own, he would have been able to guide and teach Oskar. He would have learned from his father how to deal with emotion, and Oskar could actually ask for the answers to the questions he is so desperately searching for.
Kabunky,
I agree that the outcome of the search for the lock was rather peculiar. It was something so simple, that they were both looking for one another. I feel that both of them needed to know that there was somebody else out there going through the same exact emotional ride. Although Oskar's family was always there and supportive, it is incredibly different to lose a father, as compare to a husband or son.
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