Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close Analysis

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, tells the story of a nine-year-old boy whose father died in the 9/11 terror attacks. It is a tale of Oskar and how he copes with the traumatic loss of his father and his quest to find closure for the events nearly a year later. He finds an envelope with a key, and embarks on a journey to find the meaning behind the word “Black” written on the envelope. Oskar believes that if he visits every person with the name Black in New York City, he may find out what the key opens. By doing this, he will be able to find some sort of closure that he has not had so far, as his father’s body was never found and the family had to bury an empty coffin. The day before Oskar’s father dies, he tells …show more content…

This story is a parable that showcases the series of steps one must go through before eventually arriving at the final action. In Thomas’s story, he uses the plot and structure of the tale to allow readers to see the full system. At first, the New Yorkers are “confused” (218) as to what has happened to their borough. When the townspeople have a “revelation” that “the Sixth Borough is moving”, they want to prevent it from happening. The people try “to reach out [their] arms” (219) and hold on to something they can’t “touch at all” (219). Despite the residents of Manhattan's desire for the Sixth Borough to remain as is, it is out of their control no matter how hard they "[try] to save it" (219). This is similar to Oskar’s reaction to the loss of his father, as he also wants desperately to hold on to him, which he does in the the form of the quest. Although Thomas seems to narrate these accounts in a negative tone, implying that failure to accept change is wrong, denial is a natural human phenomenon which is described as the first step to healing and acceptance. While grieving, the people of Manhattan deny what is going on around them and refuse to accept fate. Oskar’s quest is a representation of these first steps of the process because he can not accept what is happening, and tries to avoid the truth by going on his …show more content…

He reminds Oskar that "life has an abundance of clues" (221), which explains Oskar's approach to every hardship he faces. Refusing to leave his father's death with unanswered questions, Oskar chooses to find clues and looks for reasons and meaning. However, Thomas makes sure his son understands that while one never really lets go of their loved one, the attitude they have once moving on is equally important. Thomas and Oskar discuss whether or not Oskar is “an optimist or a pessimist” (221); readers discover that the young boy considers himself an optimist, because he is “positive and hopeful” (221). This positive outlook that his father teaches him enters into Oskar’s method of mourning. Believing that there is more to his father’s death than what meets the naked eye, Oskar tries to find meaning and answers, even though others don’t necessarily think the same way. Similar to finding sense behind the “peculiar fossil record of central park” and the “incongruous pH of the reservoir” (221), Oskar uses his quest as a way to find the meaning behind the envelope and key. The conversation between Oskar and his father shows how the story is a parallel to Oskar’s life. Oskar uses the lessons he learns from the story to cope with his father’s death. This specific message of believing, loving

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