Discussion Question 1
Apr. 21st, 2005 10:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
commotiocordisWell, it's 10:15 and I'm 1/2 way done. Crap. Well, in case anyone gives a damn, here's what I've got so far.
What drives Buckley to look at the twig he choked on again after Susie died?
Susie saved Buckley when he choked on a twig. She stayed home alone with him and saw
him choking from her perch on the roof. She jumped back through the window and ran through
her room to the yard where Buckley had lodged a twig in his mouth. His friend screamed for her
to come help: “‘Susie, Susie!’ Nate was yelling” (Sebold 94), but she could not help him at home.
She drove him to the hospital. Their Grandma Lynn predicted that Susie would live a long life
because she saved Buckley, but she erred in her judgement. Buckley wished to share that part of
his life with his friend, Nate, even though he attended the event. Now that Susie had died, he felt
a connection with her through their shared experience. Having thought that he felt her kiss him,
he needed to feel close to his sister. Also, even at his young age he may have felt a sense of guilt
at her having saved his life: “‘If she hadn’t been there,’ the doctor later told my mother, ‘you
would have lost your little boy’” (Sebold 94) and shortly thereafter losing her own. The same
emotions of fear and turmoil he had seen on his parents’ faces when he underwent that trial were
evident on their faces now. Only this time the relieved feelings when their child again lived safely
did not come.
What drives Buckley to look at the twig he choked on again after Susie died?
Susie saved Buckley when he choked on a twig. She stayed home alone with him and saw
him choking from her perch on the roof. She jumped back through the window and ran through
her room to the yard where Buckley had lodged a twig in his mouth. His friend screamed for her
to come help: “‘Susie, Susie!’ Nate was yelling” (Sebold 94), but she could not help him at home.
She drove him to the hospital. Their Grandma Lynn predicted that Susie would live a long life
because she saved Buckley, but she erred in her judgement. Buckley wished to share that part of
his life with his friend, Nate, even though he attended the event. Now that Susie had died, he felt
a connection with her through their shared experience. Having thought that he felt her kiss him,
he needed to feel close to his sister. Also, even at his young age he may have felt a sense of guilt
at her having saved his life: “‘If she hadn’t been there,’ the doctor later told my mother, ‘you
would have lost your little boy’” (Sebold 94) and shortly thereafter losing her own. The same
emotions of fear and turmoil he had seen on his parents’ faces when he underwent that trial were
evident on their faces now. Only this time the relieved feelings when their child again lived safely
did not come.
