English
Kristin Noschese
Theme to “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”
“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” is a story about a nine-year-old boy named Oskar Schell, whose father died in the World Trade Centers on 9/11. Throughout the book, there are also stories about Oskar’s grandparents that are told through letters to Oskar’s father and Oskar. They also lost someone dear to them and found one another as they were coping with the loss. The whole story basically reveals how each character copes and wanders through life without their beloved one. From what I have read, I have concluded that one of the themes to this book is Loss.
Oskar handles the death of his father by being curious. By curious, I mean he starts searching through his father’s things instead of just leaving them alone and replays the four messages his father left him on that day that he still hasn’t told anyone about. In the book, I’ve learned that Oskar and his dad used to play these detective games where the dad would randomly hide clues for Oskar to find and Oskar would connect the clues to solve the puzzle. I infer that Oskar feels that his father isn’t really gone and that he’s just waiting for Oskar to find the clues that lead him to where he is. Then one day, while he was sifting through his dad’s closest, Oskar finds this mysterious key in an envelope with the name Black written on it. All of a sudden he embarks on a journey to find the lock that belongs to the key. I also infer that this key symbolizes the truth that Oskar is searching for what happened to his father.
Oskar’s Grandfather lost the love of his life, Anna, who also happens to be the grandmother’s sister. When the Grandfather loss Anna, he also lost part of himself and handled his loss by becoming mute. The only way he communicated to people was by writing in composition books. Although loss is never a happy thing, one must learn to overcome it and continue with life, but for the Grandfather, he never moved on. He allowed that emptiness and deprivation of the loss to overtake him and he could never feel the way he once felt. When the Grandfather met Oskar’s Grandmother, he didn’t want to replace Anna, but wanted to feel that happiness again. When he realized that nothing could ever bring that back, he left the grandmother and his unborn son only leaving letters addressed to his unborn son. The Grandfather did not handle his loss healthy and let it take over him and his life, leaving him empty inside.
Oskar’s Grandmother also shared her losses, which is how she and the Grandfather were able to connect, but when he left, she was able to continue living life but was always sad. I learned about the Grandmother’s life through letters wrote back in 1960’s that were addressed to Oskar explaining how she met the Grandfather. I do feel sympathetic toward the Grandmother though because not only did her husband leave her, but also her son “supposedly” died in the World Trade Centers. Basically, all she has left is Oskar. She handled loss by grieving for a little while, and then continues living life.
What I have discovered from my readings is that the pain you feel with the death of a person never disappears. You can either choose to have it ruin your whole life, or you can rise from the ashes and find the things that make you happy. But is there a correct way to come to terms with loss? No, there isn’t one response because everyone has a different way to deal with loss. For example: Oskar, embarks on this adventure, the Grandmother remains alone and sad but lives, Oskar’s mom has a new relationship with Ron to replace the pain, and the Grandfather is silent and empty.
As I continue reading this book, I wonder what will Oskar find as he looks for the lock that belongs to the key, and read more of the letters that explain why the Grandfather left and how both Grandparents feel. Oskar still needs to let some of that sadness out and talk to his mom, as well as find out how his Grandfather left his Grandmother. Most of all, I wonder if the father is still alive or what kind of secret he is hiding. Lastly, I will look for more evidence and clues about the theme of Loss, and how each person continues to handle loss and come to terms with it.
