What do you think compelled all of the Blacks to show up for
Oskar's play?
Why does Oskar fantasize such a violent ending to Hamlet?
I wonder if The Cyclone is still standing after Hurricane
Sandy...just wondering...
Oskar ends his Saturday with Ada Black by saying it was
depressing. What do you think was so depressing about it?
Oskar has a growing list of cultural history created from
old Mr. Black's stories. Anything stick out to you on that list? Any
connections between the things on the list? Just wondering what you see or
notice...
What is significant about the dates on the rocks?
If you were on one of old Mr. Black's cards, what one word
would be next to your name? Tell me why it would be that word.
Why do you think old Mr. Black had turned off his hearing
aids? Why do you think he was crying?
Why do you think we get the memory of message Message Three
right after his visit with old Mr. Black?
How do you feel about Oskar's interaction with his mom at
the end of the chapter? Why do you feel this way?
Oskar goes through a variety of moods in a very short period
of time. Do you think these are actual moods, or is he just being dramatic?
Why is this chapter given the title "Heavier
Boots"?
104 comments:
Oskar, as a child that has lost a parent normally is, very protective of his loved ones. Jimmy Snyder had not only bullied Oskar, but also mocked his grandmother. These actions made Oskar furious, therefore the violent ending to Hamlet was Oskar making things right in his imagination. It is also interesting to note that he envisions the crowd saying that they would protect him. This makes me believe that Oskar felt helpless and that by standing up to his bully, he felt that he would be accepted by the crowd and his peers. It has to be very traumatizing for him to have very few friends his age to talk to about the hardships that he is dealing with. Maybe Oskar just wants to be accepted. Maybe Oskar is just tired of getting bullied and wants to give Jimmy Snyder a taste of his own medicine.
Mr. Black most likely turned his hearing aids off because he hadn't left his apartment in 24 years. He didn't have any interaction with others, so he probably didn't feel the need to hear. He was a very independent man, and he didn't need to rely on his hearing to live. He was most likely crying out of shock and joy. He forgot what it was like to hear, and he was surprised by the "loud" noises. His own voice made him cry the most, and it was probably because he had talked so much to Oskar, but never got to hear his own voice after many, many years. It's likely that the last person he talked to was his wife, and he turned his hearing aids off right after she died. His wife died 24 years ago, and he hadn't left the apartment for 24 years, so maybe without his wife he had no reason to hear, or even leave the apartment.
I think they showed up because Oskar had an affect on their lives in some way so they returned the favor and supported him at the play. If I was one of Mr. Blacks cards, the word next to my name would be smiley. I chose smiley because I love to smile at anything and everything. I think Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids for the same reason that he puts nails in his bed every morning, because he misses his wife. Maybe without her voice in the world, he felt the need to just block it out. After 24 years without hearing he forgot what everything sounded like. Thanks to Oskar he could even hear his own voice. The conversation between Oskar and his mom was... brave and it even gave me heavy boots. He got to ask the question that's been on his mind for a year and a half, “why wasn't she home when he needed her most on that day?” I think that her answer was a load of crap because no one would stay at work when someone they loved died. Something else was going on that day and she wasn't telling the truth. He was being selfish to ask his mom to never love again. She was very right that it was unfair to her and he shouldn't have put her in that position. Oskar was letting out some real anger when he told the F-bomb to his mom then corrected himself. I don't blame him but when he said that he would chose his mom or his dad, that pushed it a little to far. It wasn't right for him to do that.
I think that the memory of Message Three is triggered when meeting Mr. Black because both things remind Oskar of desperate loneliness. The Mr. Black on the sixth floor of Oskar's building purposefully isolated himself. Oskar can't comprehend why anyone would want to feel so lonely. He even thinks that if he had just known that such a lonely man existed so close to him, he would visit him. Oskar doesn't show it much, but he has a lot of empathy. Oskar does not want Mr. Black to feel as terrified/lonely as Oskar's father when he left Message Three. Oskar sees a connection between his father and Mr. Black because he wants to be like them; they are both inspirations to him because of the lives they led. To me, it seems that by Oskar inviting Mr. Black to join his search, Oskar wants to make up for not being there for his father when he felt lonely. Ugh, this book is sad.
I feel the way Oskar interacted with his mom at the end of the chapter is normal, not just for a child, but for anyone of any age. Often we use anger as a cover up for our true emotions and that is exactly what Oskar did. Oskar has felt alone, confused, scared, and frustrated since the death of his father. Also with Oskar possibly having, what I believe is some form of autism, this really for lack of a better term "rocked his world". For autistic children, any little thing that is not normal in their life or something that changes their "normal" affects them drastically. Oskar simply acted the way any one would, he has felt all these emotions for so long and he finally starts to let them out but first he uses anger to do so. After the anger comes out, the true feeling of hurt comes out.
I think Oskar envisions such a violent end to Hamlet because he's very stressed out and is having a hard time with everything that is going on in his life. Anger builds up in people and it shows in Oskar, especially his anger towards Jimmy who is essentially his school bully. Oskar deals with his anger and stress through imaginary scenarios, this isn't the only time he does this like later in the book when he imagines a scenario where he's screaming at Mr. Black when he decides to be done with Oskar's adventure. Pretty much everyone has done something like this in their life, imagined something that they want to do in real life but they never really do it because it would end badly.
As for the cards in Mr. Black's house, the Che Guevara and Arnold Schwarzenegger cards stood out to me. If I was Mr. Black I would have labeled Guevara as "Revolution" instead of just war, and Schwarzenegger as "Money" instead of war. In fact, the cards are a little too general for me, sure they all pretty much fit into the category he's placed them in, but there's nothing distinguishing someone like Mick Jagger and Martha Stewart as they both fall into the "Money" category. Just doesn't seem like a good way to file people to me.
I feel that Oskar’s reaction was defiantly violent and hurtful towards his mother; however, I believe that this is a normal behavior for most people who are stressed and angry. When someone is at that point of anger, such as how Oskar was, they tend to lash out, and Oskar’s anger happened to be directed at his mom. Due to the death of his father, which has been a source of major stress for Oskar throughout the whole book, as well as the way he views Ron walking into his mother’s life and seemingly trying to become Oskar’s new father makes him feel as if his mother is betraying his father by falling in love with someone else so quickly after his death. Because of this I feel that their relationship with each other has become weaker and weaker as the book goes on, however, as soon he notices what he had said he instantly wishes he could take back his words and asks for his mother’s forgiveness and if she still loved him, showing that it was just his anger talking and that he just needed to get some of his anger and stress off his chest.
I think that all of the Blacks that Oskar had met felt compelled to go to the play because Oskar made some impact on them, whether it be his courage or some other deeper cause. He spent so much time trying to find the meaning behind the key he found in his father's closet with nothing more to go on than the word "black" written on the front of the envelope; and being so young makes it even more courageous. Perhaps they admired his boldness, or his honesty, or his ability to make them feel something deeper than surface emotions. For whatever reason they felt an individual responsibility to attend the play.
I think that some of the Blacks went to Oskar’s play partly out of sympathy. Many of the Blacks that Oskar met had felt badly about Oskar’s obscure story with the key. The Blacks were intrigued and secretly hoping that Oskar would find answers. Oskar was there for the people he met without even trying, his outgoing personality helped to fill certain voids that people had. The Blacks wanted to give Oskar their full support. I also agree with Amber, Oskar was extremely courageous and bold; people he met admired that about him. I believe that is why so many people were drawn to Oskar and his adventures, people wanted to have his confidence yet also be naive to some of their experiences.
I think old Mr. Black turned his hearing aids off so he could block out the world. While he did have great stories and adventures, he lost a part of himself when his wife passed away and he wanted to bury himself in the quiet. He wanted to escape from the world and his emotions in attempt to forget everything. I think he started crying when Oskar turned them on because he realized that he couldn’t hide from his past anymore. He was facing everything and was overjoyed that Oskar had helped him.
I think that Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because he wanted to close himself off from the people that filled the world. He probably wanted to avoid contact with people in order to avoid being hurt by losing someone close to him. (I find it extremely sad that people become recluses instead of trying to get help and avoid missing out on life. Mr. Black told Oskar that the world is a great place, but full of horrible people. If you think about it, Mr. Black is partially true. Yes, there are people that make bad choices in the world, at the same time, there are just as many (if not more) good people. (When you think about it, there are always more people that are good and kindhearted in the world.)
This is a continuation of my last post (for some reason it posted before I finished the 2nd question). I think that Mr. Black started crying because he didn't realize that there were people in the world that would help him. Also, everything that Mr. Black kept in his past he had to deal with and he didn't notice how much he tried to escape.
There are several reasons why all of the Blacks showed up for Oskar's play. The Black's went to Oskar's play because they wanted to show him that they supported his search for what the key went to. They could've also went to his play because they felt bad for him about how he's trying to stay connected to his dad as long as he can. The Black's were probably touched by Oskar's quest to find out the key's connection to his father.(Personally, I believe that the main reason for Oskar's search was that he wanted to keep his connection with his dad for as long as possible. On the other hand, he wanted to figure out what the key went to and how it was connected to his father.) Oskar probably fantasized the violent ending to Hamlet because he got tired of the kids mocking his grandma's laughing and crying. He fantasized it to let him release his emotion about the kids mocking his grandma without him actually doing what he thought.
*For my first 2 posts, when I mention Mr. Black, I mean old Mr. Black.
I believe that Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids right after the loss of his wife. He didn't want to her a world without his wife in it. WIthout his wife, their was no reason to hear or to even intereact with the outside world. This is so sad, because he missed out on so many things, but is also beautiful because he had such a strong love with his wife. I think that he started crying, mostly out of shock because he forgot what it was like to hear the birds chirp or even his own voice. But also, I think he was crying because he finally had a reason to hear: Oskar. It is evident that Oskar has mood swings that cause him to have rude outbursts or even hurt himself. But, I don't think he is just being a dramtic kid, the loss of his father has caused him to develop serious emotional problems. This is why he is forced to see the pyschologist and why he talks about Oskar being hospitalized.
The significance of the dates on the rocks on old Mr. Black's mantle is that they show how something as insignificant as a small rock can have such a strong memory tied to it. The rocks have a rather wide range of dates between them, so you know old Mr. Black kept collecting them for a reason. Old Mr. Black had turned off his hearing aids because he felt no use for them. The only person he had to talk to was himself in his apartment, so there was no point of needing to hear. That way, it was only his own thoughts he could hear. I think the memory of Message Three came up after the visit with old Mr. Black came up because with his hearing aids turned off, it signified his loneliness and how lost he was in his mind for so many years, sort of like how Oskar's father was in that period of time being alone. It may have helped Oskar that he knew he helped someone to finally have a companion, even though he couldn't do that for his father on that day.
I think that it was completely normal for Oskar to act the way that he did at the end of the chapter. Lots of people use anger to hide how they are really feeling, especially with the people that they are closest with, and that's how Oskar was acting with his mom. The death of his father really had an impact on Oskar, especially with his autism, and since then he has felt many things: lonely, scared, helpless, and many times even out of place and unwanted. I completely agree with Abigail when she said that Oskar had been holding in so many emotions and needed to use his anger to let them all out. I definitely think it was okay for Oskar to act the way he did at the end of the chapter because he had been through so much and that was the only way he knew how to let all of his emotions and pain out.
As others have said, I too think that old Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids after his wife's death. His wife's death was such a traumatic event for him, that he had a sort of meltdown and has been coping with it ever since. He didn't want anything to do with the outside world anymore (for example hearing a noise that reminded him of her), and as such, turned off his hearing aids. It was as if his wife was the only thing linking him to something outside his comfort zone, which could also be a reason why old Mr. Black didn't leave his house after his wife's death. However, when Oskar came along, it was like old Mr. Black was reliving his life with his wife again. Oskar provided the same link to the outside world that old Mr. Black's wife has previously given him. In a way, it was almost as if Oskar was a surrogate or temporary replacement for Mr. Black's wife. Oskar's appearance gave old Mr. Black a new zeal for life again that he had previously lost with the passing of his wife, and I believe that it was this new zeal that encouraged Mr. Black to go with Oskar to look for the lock, despite his age and initial distaste. Those six months he spent with Oskar gave him another sweet taste of the life he had previously lived with his wife, and gave him the satisfaction that he needed in order to cope properly.
Oskar's interaction with his mom was heartbreaking. He is obviously angry, scared, and not handling his dad's death well, which is understandable. He is feeling all kinds of emotions and doesn't know how to properly express them to his mom. He always had his dad to calm his fears and worries; as he said earlier in the book, "He makes my brain quiet". Since his dad is no longer there, all of the thoughts and feelings are building up inside him and he explodes on his mom in a hurtful way. It is probably a good thing he did that to get some of his feelings out, but it was extremely sad and malicious.
After spending his Saturday with Ada Black, Oskar said it was a depressing day. His encounter with someone rich like Ada made him realize how many other rich people there were in the world that hogged the money they owned to themselves. Even though Ada said she donated to charity, it still gave Oskar heavy boots thinking about how the world would be a better place if other rich people were as giving to the unfortunate. I also believe old Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because his wife died. After her death, he had nothing significant left to listen to. He wanted to cut down on the amount of things, like songs, that reminded him of his wife. Mr. Black started crying when he heard the outside world after such a long time because it brought back old memories and because he had missed the noise of the outside world.
I believe that Mr. Black's hearing aids being off is a metaphor for how close he was with his wife. The two became so close that when she died, he lost one of his senses. For 24 years he lived without one of his sense because he never had a reason to get it back. When Oskar shows up and turns them back on, it represents the fact that Mr. Black has purpose back in his life. Another reason Mr. Black could have turned off the hearing aid is the fact that he was avoiding the fact that his wife died. He didn't want to listen to everyone's pity and all that, so he just turns off the hearing aid and shuts himself in his own world. The turning on of the hearing aid could symbolize the fact that he is coming out of his own hermit world. This could be the reason he cries.
As everyone knows Oskar is not a shy little kid. He is determined and not afraid to be outgoing. When he visited people with the last name Black he ended up having an impact on their lives in some way, shape, or form. He would not just visit these people to find out if they knew Thomas Schell or where his dad's key belonged, but he would strike up conversations with them. He made them look at life in a different way. During his conversations with these people he would invite them to his play Hamlet that he was in. By the time the play rolled around most of the Blacks came to support Oskar. They wanted to show him their love and how much they care for him, even if they don't know him all that well! He made them feel special and cared about so they are just doing the same thing for him.
At the end of this chapter Oskar gets into an argument with his mom and says some pretty hurtful things to her. I feel as though Oskar took things too far with his mother saying he wishes she died instead of his father. I do understand that he is a kid and kids say things they don't mean, but wishing his own mother died is crossing the line in my opinion. Oskar is just so sad, depressed, and upset about his father being gone that he is taking his anger out on other people. Obviously he was close with his father and misses him like crazy. At the end of the day, Oskar and his mother should be turning to each other to support one another in this tough time, not arguing and tearing each other down!
The significance of the dates on the rocks mark important events in United State's history. For example the rock dated "Normandy, 6/19/44" deals with World War II, the invasion of the beaches of Normandy to take back France from Nazis. The rock dated "Hwach'on Dam 4/09/51" deals with the Korean War, the battle for the dam was one of the most important battles of that war. The rock dated "Dallas 11/22/63" is very important to US History because that is the day and place of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
I think it is normal for Oskar to imagine such a violent ending to the play Hamlet. He is suffering a tragic loss, and becomes very protective of his family. It is normal for people to wish bad things upon someone who hurt them or hurt their family. Although they may not follow through with the acts of violence, it gives them a chance to release some anger they have if they just imagine what it would be like to hurt the bully as much as the bully has hurt them. Everyone goes through this is life because they care about their loved ones and do not want others to criticize them. Jimmy Snyder belittled Oskar’s family therefore making Oskar want revenge because he cares about his family. In the moment of fantasizing violence, he feels power and comforted because he is defending his family. Normally Oskar would have just moved on but he is tired of being looked down upon so he wanted to stand up for himself like any person would do.
I feel that Oskar’s interaction with his mom at the end of the chapter was very hurtful but also very natural. When people get upset they typically say things they do not mean because their mind is full of rash hurtful thoughts at that moment. Oskar hides a lot of his emotions, so no one can really understand what goes through his head at times. I think these emotions have built up to be too much now, and he finally let go a bit and expressed some of the things he is feeling. The death of his father made him lonely and confused. He lost the one he relied on most for advice, adventures, and company. He was unsure how to express his feelings to his mother because he was upset with her for “moving on” after his father’s death. We also know Oskar has some sort of mental disability which does not help him make things easier with releasing his thoughts and emotions in a civil way. I think his mom understands that he does not mean what he says. Although it hurt her in the moment she knows he does not mean it.
After Oskar's interaction with his mom, I obviously felt a bit sorry for her. Wishing death on someone is definitely the worst thing that you could say, but even though Oskar doesn't always act like it, he is still just a kid. He was not in control of his emotions in his conversation with his mom, especially when she brought up his father. Oskar couldn't get his mind around the idea of having a different father figure in his life, which is what he thought Ron would be if his mom kept hanging around with him. Even though she told him they are just friends who are going through the same pain and loss together, Oskar can't see it that way, and his instinct was to lash out. I felt bad for Oskar's mom in this situation, because nobody wants to hear their kid say that, but I also feel bad for Oskar after the situation ended. I think he wanted his mom to see all of the bruises on his body and to feel remorse or to talk to him about them, but she never does. I feel like this makes Oskar feel even less cared for.
Throughout this book, one can observe that Oskar is not the "typical" young man. When observing the behaviors of Oskar, one can determine that he may have a form of autism. A majority of autistic children go through sudden mood swings of a different variety over a short time. Therefore one is lead to believe that the mood swings he experiences are in fact happening. Although, through a different aspect, he does seem to exaggerate them within his won mind.
Given that Oskar rapidly uncovers information that he believes may be about his father, and the various different encounters he has had with different people, it is understandable that he is feeling a wide array of emotions. I don't think Oskar was just being dramatic because as an eight-year-old boy he has undergone a lot in the past few months of his life. He also has to deal with these encounters and emotions largely alone and does not have a lot of support from others (with the exception of Mr. Black). There is no one there to help Oskar with the emotional aspect of his search at a deeper level, and therefore he has to learn how to deal the the challenges he faces on his own. Oskar feels that deep down inside him the key doesn't unlock anything but continues his journey as more of a coping mechanism to compensate for all of the emotions he has been feeling as a result of his father's death.
I found it interesting that Oskar remembered Message Three right after visiting old Mr. Black, and I wondered what the connection could be. I feel that part of Oskar's conversation with Mr. Black actually put Oskar in his father's shoes. When Oskar kept repeating himself to Mr. Black without receiving an answer, he began to remember when his father was in the same situation. In Message Three, Oskar's father is calling out over and over again, hoping that someone will be there to hear him; at the time he left the message, though, no one was home, so no one could possibly hear. Similarly, it was impossible for Mr. Black to know that Oskar was talking to him. His hearing aids were turned off, and he could not see Oskar's lips moving because his eyes were closed. Upon realizing this, Oskar also realized that the tables had been turned; he was no longer the person not hearing, for he had become the person not being heard. This triggered in Oskar a deep feeling of connection to his father, thus forcing him to remember the time when his father's voice also went unnoticed.
Oskar was going through a variety of moods in a very short period. i think these moods are actual moods but i also believe that Oskar is just being dramatic. i think this because Oskar was missing his dad so of course he was being moody. on the other hand, when Oskar told his mom that he wished it was her that died instead he was just being over dramatic. i don't think that Oskar truly met what he told his mom, i feel like he was in the moment and that he said the first thing that came to his mind.
i think the Blacks that showed up to Oskar's play were compelled to go because they felt almost sorry for Oskar losing his dad and him searching for the lock. This chapter is called "Heavier Boots" because in it Oskar learns thing throughout the chapter that give him heavier boots, or things he holds with him and they make hi feel sad and disheartened.
I think that Oskar fantasized such a violent ending to Hamlet because of his pent up anger. He was frustrated with the things that weren't working, he was searching for the lock that went with the key he found, and although he felt like he was getting closer he was getting further. Also, it stated in that long paragraph where he was smashing skulls, that he was angry at Ron for letting his mom getting on with life, and was angry at his mom for getting on with her life. I believe that he was angry at her for this because he didn't want people to forget about his father's death, he didn't want anyone to move on, as he still wished that he was alive. Another reason I believe that Oskar imagined a brutal ending was because he was playing someone who was dead in the play. Oskar was tired of death and feeling like death. He wasn't getting to the places where he wanted to be, no one was understanding his goals, and most importantly, since he was playing a dead person, he began to feel very detached from everyone. All this pent up anger made Oskar want to take everything out on something, finally. When the audience shouted that they'd protect Oskar at the end, I feel like they meant that they'll protect Oskar from himself, protect him from all the things that seemed to be going wrong. They'll protect him from getting angry by showing him to be happy or something along the lines of being happy.
After reading about Oskar's day with Ada Black, I sort of wondered why he thought it was depressing because Ada was such a nice person, but after looking more into it, I understood why it was depressing. I believe that Oskar thought it was depressing because he realized that there aren't many people like Ada out there. Including him, who wasn't as giving as her. After meeting her, Oskar donated a couple coins to the Diabetes Foundation. It wasn't a lot, but I assume it was from his coin collection. Ada had discreetly stated that Oskar didn't need those coins, that someone else out there would actually need the coins for survival. Oskar realized that he was one of those people out there that wasn't giving. I also believe that he thought it was depressing because he took another step back when he discovered that Ada Black did not know anything about the key his dad had left.
Mr. Black's cards that had one word to describe each person on it were based off of what he knew. I'm guessing they were first impressions since he didn't know them on a personal level. Like Marilyn Monroe had 'sex' written next to her name, but there was more to Marilyn Monroe than just sex. Mr. Black probably didn't know that Marilyn Monroe grew up in an orphanage, or that her father was in a mental institute, or that she was a high school drop out, or that she was married when she was just 16. Mr. Black also described Ariel Sharon as 'war', he probably didn't consider the fact that Sharon was also a politician or that his parents were Russian immigrants, or that he was Jewish. I think this is why Oskar got a little miffed when he saw the cards and that each person was knocked down to just one overgeneralized word, because they didn't describe each person deeply. It left out several things and could even be hiding something about who the person truly is. If I was in Mr. Black's shoes and he were to write my name down on a card with an adjective next to it, he would most likely write 'travel'. Travel is something that I tell a lot of people I love to do when I first meet them, and that is why he would write that. In reality, though, what Black wouldn't know is that I always come home or would always come home. He wouldn't know that I would have one single place where I call home, he would think that I just like to travel everywhere. He also doesn't know what I want to do when I travel, for all he would know, it would just be to discover places.
http://www.biography.com/people/marilyn-monroe-9412123
http://www.biography.com/people/ariel-sharon-9480655
Oskar's fantasy for the end of the play I feel was very fitting. As other people have stated, since losing his father he has been very protective of his family so when Jimmy Snyder started making fun of his grandma and him he started to build up a lot of anger towards Jimmy. Also the feeling failure he had because he still hadn't found anything out about the lock, I'm almost surprised that under all of that stress he didn't actually do anything. His fantasies are a way for him to relieve himself of some of his stress. I really like the fact that the author doesn't actually say that it's a fantasy like some others do by italicising text or putting any type of indication because it makes the scene feel very real, at least up until the audience started cheering. It helps you picture what Oskar wanted to happen and react to him beating the snot out of Jimmy, instead of going in and dismissing it because it's not happening.
I'm not necessarily sad about how the chapter ended, I'm just upset that that was how it turned out I guess, because Oskar knew that he always favored his dad over his mom. Oskar was feeling incredibly frustrated because his mom didn't understand Oskar very well, whereas his dad did. When Oskar and his mom were having that conversation, she didn't understand why Oskar didn't understand the difference between remembering and being happy. It was almost as if he didn't want to be happy, but I don't believe that to be true, though. It was after Oskar said that he wished it was her who died instead of him that he felt incredibly alone. I think Oskar was feeling alone a lot throughout this book, but this is when it became real. I just thought that the ending of this chapter was quite depressing because of all the realization that came with it.
This chapter is titled "Heavier Boots" because I believe that Oskar learned a lot about different types of people and discovered more about himself. Oskar met a really nice, rich girl who gave back to the community who helped him think about the more poor part of the world about who had more needs instead of wants. Oskar discovered that he was someone who wanted things instead of needed them, which gave him heavy boots. Another thing that gave him heavy boots when Oskar discovered that his father's name was not on any of Mr. Black's cards, he thought his father was great enough, but he also wondered what would describe him because he thought his father was Great. It also gave Oskar heavy boots when he learned that Mr. Black never left his apartment and that he kept his hearing aids off. Oskar wondered why he did this. And I wonder if it's because he wants to be away from the real world and how corrupt society has become. The last reason I think that this chapter is titled "Heavier Boots" is because of the depressing conversation that Oskar had with is mom before he went to bed. Oskar learned many things and in the end he felt alone and that no one truly understood him.
I didn't feel bad about how Oskar treated his mother at first, but after thinking about it, of course I feel bad. I don't know if I'm just not as good at sympathizing with parent characters, or if I'm living through Oskar fighting with his mom because I don't like fighting myself, but through their interaction, I found myself thinking, "Yeah, Oskar! You show her!" I do think that it's perfectly okay for Oskar's mom to want to move on, but I also understand that Oskar wants his life to revolve around his father, too, even if that's not what's best for him.
I think that if I were Oskar, I'd be thinking all the things he said, but I would be too afraid to say what I felt, because I wouldn't want to make my mom mad. Especially when his mom said, "Don't you want to be buried with Dad and me?" and Oskar said, "Dad isn't even there... It's just an empty box."
I know that his mom was so hurt by Oskar's "I would've chosen you!" comment because she knows it's true. She has a harder time relating to Oskar, and ever since Thomas died, she has felt more distant from her son than ever.
I think all of the Blacks felt compelled to go to Oskar's play because they had made a connection with Oskar. Each one of them had had a conversation with Oskar, learned how special he was, and the struggles he was going through. As Oskar shared with them the meaning of the key, he opened up to them. I think the Blacks felt sorry for Oskar after they learned his story. All the Blacks that showed up to the play seemed very supportive of Oskar's search for the lock. They had all opened up their homes to him and took the time to listen to his story when they could've easily turned him away.
I think all the Blacks showed up for Oskar’s play because they felt bad for him. Oskar is a mentally handicapped child that loss a parent. He reached out to all the Blacks for help with the mysterious key; however, none of the Backs could help with the key. Therefore, I think they went to his play to support him and show him that people cared for him. They were trying to help Oskar in another way.
I think old Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because of his wife's death. He felt bad for not realizing sooner that he wanted to spend his life with her instead of going to war. So once she died, he became somewhat depressed and he locked himself up in his house. At this point, I think he turned his hearing aids off because he had just given up. When he turned them back on, I think he cried because he found what he was missing and he felt motivation to do something with his life again.
I think this chapter is called “Heavier Boots” because a lot of things come back to Oskar within a very short time. This overwhelms Oskar and he is flooded with a bunch of emotions. When someone has heavy boots it means that they're dealing with a lot of stuff. During this particular chapter, Oskar is dealing with all of these emotions and a bunch of other things which gives him “heavier boots.”
Oskar made quite the impression on the Blacks and that's why they decided to show up to the play. He really seemed to connect to them by going on roller coasters and just talking to them. I believe the way Ada talked to him made him rethink certain principles he had learned from his parents and himself. She told him he was trying to be too nice and came off "condescending". I believe that is also the saddest part of the encounter between the two. The thing I found most interesting about when Ada and Oskar met was how materialistic the world has become. Ada had two Picasso's, a marble floor, and was the 467th richest person in the world. I'm not sure how or why she knows that but it shows just how important wealth is to some people. Ada also tries to show how Oskar is like her in the way that he collects coins. She tells Oskar how the coins would be more useful to a homeless person than to Oskar. This also really upsets Oskar because this comparison shows that nobody gives all they can to help others.
I agree with Brennon I actually thought that Oskar to have a mild form of autism and therefor causing his mood swings and his violent fantasy. I also don't blame him for it because I would be pretty mad at anyone making fun of a family member that close to me. And along with the perhaps autistic persona, I believe that is why all of the Black's decided to come to the play. I know from experience that being there and showing your support to someone with mental illness can make all the difference. He also had quite the traumatic experience too so that might have compelled them to come as well.
Mr. Black had turned off his hearing aids because of his relationship with his wife. After she died, he had no reason to be alone in the scary world without her. In a way, he felt like he had no guidance. I also believe that he didn't want to hear the world without his wife. There is a positive and negative stance on him turning off his hearing aids. The positive is that he cared and loved his wife so much that he didn't want to face the world alone without her help. The negative is that he missed out on what he could've been seeing for twenty-four years. When Oskar turned on Mr. Black's hearing aids, he was startled at first. He began to hear the birds chirp and sing. Instantly, he began drowning in tears. He was crying because he was starting to realize what he had missed on the gifts that the world around him had to offer. He also was crying because he began to think of his wife again. He wanted to know what it would've been like again to hear the world around him with his wife.
I think that Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because he had sadly grown accustomed to the loneliness. Because he was lonely, he had no one to talk to; hence, Mr. Black had no use for his hearing aids. Mr. Black was crying because he realized that he had not heard anything for probably over two decades. This realization of loneliness and isolation hit him like a brick wall when he realized that it took that long for him to need the hearing aids and for someone to even visit him. Also, I feel like it would be an emotional feeling to be able to hear again for the first time in 24 years. It also sort of dawned on him how old he really was and how he had missed out on so many opportunities, which is why he agreed to help Oskar find the lock that the key belongs to.
I don’t believe that Oskar’s mood changes are because he is being dramatic. I think he really does have a mental problem that makes him have mood swings so often. It also does not help that he is still trying to find ways to cope with the death of his father. After something so heartbreaking, it is easy for our minds to switch from happy to sad in the blink of an eye. One moment you could be thinking of all of the happy times you had with someone but then it reminds you of what just happened so you become sad. While reading this book, it is easy to understand that Oskar has some problems, therefore meaning he is unable to control himself sometimes. I am sure he does not just changes moods on purpose to be dramatic, I think it is his minds way of releasing emotions, and feelings that are built up inside of him.
The Blacks wanted to show up for Oskar's play in order to show that they all care about him. They wanted Oskar to know that they support him in his quest to find the lost lock of his father's key. The Black's felt bad that Oskar's dad had died on 9/11. They wanted Oskar to stay connected with his dad as long as possible and they figured that Oskar finding the lost lock was the best way to do so. Oskar's interaction with his mom at the end of the chapter is very depressing. Oskar said some things that he wished he hadn't said. For example, he says that he wishes his mom would have died instead of his dad. His mom becomes heartbroken. Oskar doesn't know exactly what he's trying to say. He is obviously upset, but does a terrible job of expressing his emotions. I believe he does this because he's never really had practice before with dealing with so many emotions at the same time.
When Oskar goes through a variety of moods, I believe that they are actual moods and not just him being dramatic. Oskar probably has a mental problem that causes him to go through a variety of moods during a short period of time. He maybe has some type of bipolar disease. During one moment he's fine and the next he's extremely depressed. He seems to be at a peak when he participates in his plays. Then, he seems to be at an all time low whenever he thinks of his father. He gets very sad when he thinks of his father's death because of their close relationship. At the end of the chapter he takes out his negative feelings on his mother because he doesn't know how to deal with the feelings or moods that he feels.
I think Mr.Black turned off his hearing aids because he wanted to feel alone. His life revolved around honoring his deceased wife and if he couldn't have her then I don't believe he wanted to have anyone. It wasn't until Oskar came around that he turned his hearing aids on, and Oskar was the first person to show him any compassion since his wife's death.
I think Mr.Black turned off his hearing aids because he wanted to feel alone. His life revolved around honoring his deceased wife and if he couldn't have her then I don't believe he wanted to have anyone. It wasn't until Oskar came around that he turned his hearing aids on, and Oskar was the first person to show him any compassion since his wife's death.
If I was on one if Mr. Black's cards, the word next to my name would be strong. I chose this word because I can describe myself several different ways with the word strong. I am strong in how I show my feelings and opinions and as well as how I present myself in ways of communication. I think Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because he was tired of hearing the world without his wife. I think he just wanted to block out everything else. He went years and years without his wife, and I believe that in his mind, the world wasn't worth being heard without the sound of her voice.
When Old Mr. Black was reading through all of his cards, many of the people were described by the word "war." Initially, that was the word he had for himself as well. We find out that he had been in multiple wars, and, as many people know today, war takes a devastating psychological effect on people. It is apparent to me that old Mr. Black suffers from PTSD. I believe he turned off his hearing aids because of his PTSD, because he was afraid of any loud noises. To him, loud noises meant gunfire and explosions. Oskar helped him finally overcome that fear, he helped Mr. Black hear again.
When Oskar goes through a variety of moods in that short period of time, I absolutely think they were actual moods. In no way was he being dramatic. Oskar is a very straightforward-thinking kid. He lives his life by things with logical explanation, although he does admit some things are "complicated." He is not the type of person to be over dramatic; his feelings an d moods were all his raw emotion. There is no scale that can measure the effect that losing a loved one, let alone a parent, has on a person. By the ideals of nature, it is not meant for a parent to decease before their offspring. This takes a devastating tole on anyone that has to suffer through it. Dealing with this loss affects Oskar's life every single day and therefore affected his mood swings.
Like many others have said, I believe Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because of the loss of his wife. I think when she died he didn't feel the need for his sense of hearing. He was lonely and he stayed in his home for 24 years without interaction. All he needed was to listen to his mind. I believe by turning off his hearing aids, it was a way to cope with his wife's death. He didn't want anything to do with the outside world. His wife might of been his only link or perhaps to be a part of the outside. When Oskar came along though, he felt a sense of purpose again. Mr. Black was crying because I think when he heard all the birds and noises he realized he missed so much in life. It was kind of heartbreaking in my eyes. I believe he was happy to have a purpose or reason to turn on his hearing aids again.
I believe Oskar's intersection with his mom at the end of the chapter was normal for a kid his age and going through a big loss. Although, I felt a little bad for the mom because what he said was harsh. Since Oskar lost his dad all these foreign emotions built up inside him and he didn't know how to release them. Oskar's father "quieted his brain" but without his father he has no other release. His mom had to act as the release. He is a kid and at a young age no one really knows how to deal with intense emotions like that. I also feel that Oskar feels a little betrayed by his mom because of Ron walking into their life and all. Throughout the book Oskar and his mothers relationship seems to weaken and I believe that had somerging to do with his outburst.
I agree with many people when they say that all the blacks showed up to his play because they felt bad for him. They realized that he lost his father and was trying to figure out the mystery of the key. I believe they wanted to give Oskar the support for he could continue on his journey and not lose the connection with his father. But, all the blacks knew that they couldn't help with the actual key mystery so by going to the play they were showing that they cared and were supporting him.
I agree completely with Danielle. I would like to add, Oskar imagines a scenario in which he retaliates against Jimmy Snyder’s mockery of Oskar’s grandmother by physically and verbally assaulting Jimmy, yet he lacks the ability to actually stand up to Jimmy in real life. I feel as though Oskar had so much anger built up inside after the loss of his father. Since Jimmy antagonized him often, it was the ideal time to snap. This shows Oskar’s difficulty in making his thoughts and opinions known to others.
Mr. Black decides to leave Oskar after he meets the lady that lived at the top of the Empire State Building. The lady explains to them that she lost her husband some time ago and since then, she has decided to stay cooped up in the building so that she never has to go down to the ground floor and face reality. In a way, I feel like Mr. Black acts in the same way when he decides to turn off his hearing aids and stay locked up in the house. To Oskar, Mr.Black may seem like the happiest man in the world even though he lost his wife. But we have to remember that Oskar's point of view is vey biased because we are seeing the world through Oskar's eyes. For all we know, Mr. Black could be playing an act in order to cope with the reality of his wife being gone.
I noticed Oskar's interactions with his mom were somewhat different in the beginning of the story compared to the very end. Not to say that they weren't close with each other in the beginning of the book but I got the impression that they became a lot more open with each others feelings in the last few moments of the story. For example, whenever Oskar would leave to go search for meaning behind the key he had just found in his fathers vase, he never really told his mom where he was going or what he was doing. His mom never asked either. Even though Abby called her to tell him what was going on, I still feel like she could have made some sort of an effort to talk to him about it. But I think the emotions in the last chapter of Oskar's point of view opened up an whole new door for them and how they can act around each other. They probably feel a lot closer emotionally and can relate to how they both feel, providing a new sense of comfort for each other.
Old Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because he no longer cared to hear anything. Most likely, he suffered through a traumatic experience, like Oskar, and didn’t care if he heard anything anymore. Also, since no one had even made an effort or even asked old Mr. Black if wanted to hear again, he was content living in his silent, although lonely, bubble. When Oskar asks if he wants him to turn on his hearing aids, he is stunned because he wants to hear again, after being shown such kindness from a little boy who’s practically a stranger. Because old Mr. Black still wore his hearing aids even though he never turned them on, it shows that he still had the desire to hear again, but, after turning them off for so long, he became afraid of the sound and accustomed to living without it. He began to cry for multiple reasons: because of Oskar’s odd friendliness and the sounds he’s hearing again.
The Blacks were compelled to show up to Oskar’s play, because they share a strange affinity with the boy. For example, Oskar shares that he and Abe Black locked eyes and shared something, and, whether their eye contact was important or not, it is still something, and Oskar hasn’t had anything for a long time; he feels alone in the world, and, as a result, he creates the alternate, violent ending for Hamlet in his mind where his dead character Yorick comes back to life to take revenge on Jimmy Snyder, who has been a constant bully against Oskar, Toothpaste, and the Minch.
I believe the Blacks went to the play for Oskar because of how every one of them was affected by him, some of them felt sympathy for him, some saw him as brave and courageous,and yet they all come to Oskar's play. This just goes to show what a huge impact Oskar made on these people even if he had only met them once in his life. Oskar's relationship with his mother starts out kind of rocky. Oskar is overwhelmed by a swarm of emotions after his father's death and it angers him that she is not going through the same thing he is. He's depressed, confused, scared, lonely, and so much more, but his mother looks as if it didn't bother her at all. Then again that's only looks. Oskar's mother hides her emotions like any parent would from their child so they don't see them in grief. It's difficult as a child when you see a parent distressed because it makes you feel helpless so his mother buries it so it won't cause him any more pain then he is already handling. Even though the lack of emotion shown by his mother angers him, it's better than showing it all and having Oskar suffer even more.
Oskar's interaction with him mom at the end of this chapter is heartbreaking. Oskar is having a very hard time dealing with his fathers death and does not understand his moms way of healing. He feels betrayed by his mother as he watches her with Ron. Oskar asks her to promise to never love anyone again, and then tells her that he would've chosen her. I dont think Oskar totally understood what was going on with his mom and Ron because she had to constantly tell him they were just friends, but it was hard to see his mom with another man. Oskar tried to apologize for the comments but his mom will never be able to unhear the hurtful words he said to her.
I think that Mr. Black felt no reason to hear, and that is why he decided to turn off his hearing aids. After his wife died, he didn't leave his apartment for 24 years and he didn't interact with anyone. The last person he talked to was most likely his wife. After she died he probably had no reason to hear. I think Oskar's violent ending of Hamlet came from the overwhelming stress and anger built up inside him. His deep emotional problems were developed after his father's death, and only got worse and worse over time.
I feel like all the blacks showed up to Oskars play because Oskar affected their lives. The small amount of time Oskar was with them he found so much more about them and that meant something to them. So they went to his play to see a part of him. Some of the Blacks felt bad for him and showed their sympathy by showing up.
Mr Black I feel like turned off his hearing aids because after his wife died he didnt have to hear anything else. He didn't care what was out there anymore which was most likely one of the reasons he stayed in his apartment. He didn't need to hear anymore stories for the world. Once the hearing aids were finally on he cried, cried because its been so long of him hearing anything at all. It also probably made him think of his wife. That his wife was gone and he will never hear her voice again.
Oskar always says things he doesn't means or it comes out a lot harsher than he wanted. Oskar see's his mom replacing his dad with Ron and he doesn't understand that she's hurt as well as him. She tries not to show it because she's suppose to be strong and be his mom. Oskar doesn't get that. All his emotions build up and I feel like he take's it out on his mom especially by saying he would of chose her. He obviously doesn't want to lose his mom. You can tell that especially in the story how he tells the doctor he doesn't stay at friends apartments because being away from his mom too long. The interaction with his mind kind of heartbreaking because by him saying that it broke her heart.
The Blacks come to Oskar’s play because he had mentioned it to them while visiting about the key, and because the Blacks had been in contact with Oskar’s mom the entire time. I think if I had a card in Mr. Black’s biographical index, it would say, “music” as my one word description because I enjoy listening to it and I enjoy making it so much. I think Oskar’s drastic mood shifts are not just him being dramatic, but a real and sudden change in emotion. After all, it is quite obvious, he has some very serious emotional issues (I’m sure we all would, at his age, under his circumstances) and I would not be surprised at all if every small snippet of emotion is a mood change. When Oskar feels sad and guilty, his boots get heavy, so, with heavier boots, Oskar is more down than before.
Mr. A. R. Black’s cards were composed of a person and a word that the person was closely related to. I believe some of the words were not great choices or were too overgeneralized. It took me a while to think of one word that I could associate myself with. But as I thought more and more, and looked at what many of the people had by their names, I would also write “money” next to mine. Money has quite a negative connotation in today’s society, but I find great pride in the concept of money. Money can often mean hard work. It can mean success. It can mean intelligence. It can mean charity. It can mean generosity. I wouldn’t mind being associated with this word in the future because I think it can be very positive.
I think that Old Mr. Black removed his hearing aids because he didn't think they were important to him anymore after the death of his wife and the only person left he had to speak to was himself.In a way, when he took them out it was in respect for his wife because he didn't want to hear a world that didn't have his wife in it. I think Oskar acted in a normal way at the end of the chapter with his mother. I agree with those above that say the anger was held in after the death of his father and it also affected his autism as well. Oskar was left feeling lonely and scared and when all your emotions are held in the only thing left to express is anger, which is how he acted towards his mother. I believe that it was normal, but still hurtful towards her because they should be supporting each other when a death occurs not tearing each other down, whether Oskar was closer to his father or not.
Oskar said something very hurtful and I actually felt very bad for his mother though it’s a fictional novel. I know Oskar is young but it’s sad that the kid could choose one parent over the other. I have a younger brother who tells each of my parents good night every night. My parents also will joke around and ask who his favorite is and he always says he doesn’t have a favorite, that he loves his parents the same. He’s 10 now but it’s been going on for several years. In the heat of the moment, he told her that if one parent could of died, he’d rather it be her. It’s just awful. After his dad died abruptly, he should know better than to take someone for granted.
Oskar's interaction with him mom at the end of this chapter breaks my heart. Oskar is having a hard time understanding his moms the way his mother heals. He was already having obviously a hard time dealing with his father's death. He felt almost like a third wheel to his mother with Ron. Oskar asks her to promise to never love anyone again, and then tells her that he would've chosen her. Oskar is taking it hard, like almost anyone would, seeing his mom with another man. It is too hard for him at his age to understand that they are just friends.
I think Oskar imagines such a violent ending to Hamlet because he doesn't generally like the other kid and he's just been really stressed out over meeting all these Blacks and getting nowhere. Sometimes just the thought of flipping out and wreaking havoc is a good way to get your mind off things and release stress, as screwed up as it may be. He's stressing about more than just getting nowhere though. There's his relationship with his mother since father died that has been throwing him off. At the end of the chapter, when Oskar tells his mom that he wishes that she died instead of dad, I don't that was the best way to relieve stress but there was no way he actually meant it.
If my name was on a card in Mr.Black's collection my word would be "war" because there's no need to be indirect. War would be an acceptable word to put on anyone's card. Most people only think of war as shooting and fighting and killing but there are so many more types of wars than the outwardly (and obviously) violent ones. People have wars with themselves and with others, too. We generally refer to those types of wars as conflicts but the two words have the same meaning, just a different connotation. It seems over exaggerated to call something that's not bloody a war, but sometimes the things that people go through are so much more painful than war because a grenade can't tear you apart from the inside. This would be my word because, to me, it's completely non-specific (as non specific as one word describing an entire being can be, I think). If describing myself with more than one word would be a difficult task because there are infinite things to describe (thoughts, eyes, hands, feet, liver, spleen, etc.). So, in the end it doesn't really matter what word is put in your card because it could mean an infinite number of things. This was the word I chose not because it describes my sole being, but simply because it seemed to be the "word of the day" because the word was used tons in the chapter and if Mr.Black met me on this day then that would be the word most likely to end up on my card.
If my name were on one of Mr. Black's cards I think that the only word that would be on the card would be "thinker". I thought of this for many reasons. Firstly, this word wasn't used with any other name that was recognized in the novel. Secondly, I feel that it accurately describes me, and I guess what I'm about. I've been known to analyze and over analyze situations so much that it is unhealthy. But also, it's positive in that I like to think and talk with people about big topics and topics that matter.
In the first few pages of the book it was pretty obvious that Oskar doesn't have a "word filter". He is a very bright child with so many good ideas and all those good ideas bounce around his head and get more and more crowded. So when someone doesn't understand exactly what Oskar's thinking (like Thomas did) he gets even more frustrated then he already is at the world. When he told his Mom that he wishes that she was dead instead of his dad my mood completely dropped. They went from joking about the electric fence he would need in his mausoleum to Oskar wishing his caretaker was dead. This was completely heartbreaking just imagining the situation as a mother, even knowing Oskar didn't mean to say it.
Oskar comes up with a very violent ending to his play because it stresses him out so much and with his depression being added to that causes him to think in obscene ways. He has the fantasies of beating his school bully Jimmy to death with the skull. I think Oskar kind of wants vengeance for the death of his father and to also make some of his pain go away by eliminating one of the main sources to it. We also see him using imaginary situations with Mr.Black and his Mother, he uses mean and vile words to try and get his way. When Oskar fantasizes though i kinda see the angel and the demon side of Oskar, the angel side is the side we see more, the calm, cool, and collective side that people can enjoy, the one that looks for answers in a sort able-fashion. While there's the demon side that is belligerent, vile, and un-kind, the un-friendly side of him that is basically his own inner bully, that searches for answers with rage and fear. Oskar is merely trying to view both sides in my opinion before he takes action into his conversations and his own agenda.
If I were in Mr. Blacks list of cards, my card would say "student". It seems simple, but that's what most of his cards consist of, things that person did most of their life. Since most of my life has mostly consist of school so far, I am a student. His cards consist of simple things that didn't necessarily describe the person, but mostly what they were known for. I am known for going to school for seven out of the fifteen hours I am awake throughout the day. Being a student is the majority of my day, so that's why my card would say "student".
It is very normal for Oskar to be lashing out the way he is, considering the circumstances in his life. After experiencing something traumatic, it is very normal for people to show erratic behavior and emotions, especially young children. While Oskar wishing death upon his mother may be harsh, his life circumstances must be taken into consideration.
Mr. Black's spouse passed away 24 years ago. Following her death, Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids and did not leave his house for 24 years, or eight thousand six hundred twenty-nine days ago (if you count the nails in his bed).I think that Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because he had no reason to turn them on after he couldn't hear his wife's voice anymore. He isolated himself on the 6th floor, and could only hear his own thoughts. As anyone could imagine, being deprived of audition for such a prolonged time, and hearing how much twenty-four years has changed the general tone of your voice and those around you would be more than moving.
It is very obvious from reading this book that Oskar is a very different child. This is very obvious from the very unstructured narraton of the book. To me, it seems as though Oskar suffers from aspergers symdrome. Through his wild emotions and free ranging thoughts, I would be surprised if Oskar didn't suffer from some form of autism.
I couldn't agree any more to the reason as to why he was crying. I would cry so much if I hadn't heard my own voice for almost a quarter of a century. What would make me cry the most is how old I've become. I would hear the aging in my voice and feel like less of a man, like time has taken from me.
If I had to be one of mr. Blacks cards, I would be a thinker. I really hate to put that because it feels really self-righteous and conceited, but it's how I would best describe myself. I always find myself thinking about things, big and small, trivial and vital. While I feel that sometimes I think so much that it affects my daily productivity, I also feel so happy just being lost in thoughts for a few hours. I learn something new about myself every time.
That's what I put for mine as well. I honestly am happy that I can honestly put that as mine because I feel like it gives me a colorful perspective of the world. As much as I may also hate over analyzation, I also appreciate it beyond words because I feel I am more aware as a whole due to it.
I think all of the Blacks showed up for Oskar's play because of himself and his mother. Oskar is a very caring kid and I think he left a mark on them. I also think with their interaction with Oskar and his mother it was the least they could do to show support for him. I think Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because he never had any visitors or interaction with people after his wife passed away 24 years ago. He had no need for them.
The way Oskar acted with his mother is terrible and heartbreaking. I don't know what child would act like this to their own parents. Yes, I know that he is unique and upset but this is way to harsh for a child to say to their parent. Oskar feels that his mom doesn't even miss his dad and all she wants to do is have fun with Ron. I think that Oskar has taken it to far. Personally I would never act like this to my own mother or father. I know what is right to say and that is not on the list.
The Blacks showing up to Oskar’s play I believe is out of pity. A young boy comes to you, alone asking if you know anything about a random key, then is heart broken when he is led to another dead end. He still invites you to his play in a few weeks as sort of a thank you for your time. Also he did tell some of them that it was about his father who had died recently, so they might had felt bad for his loss too.
The reason why Mr. Black has turned off his hearing aid is that since his wife died 24 years ago no one has come and visited him or talked to him. He misses the sound of his wife's voice. He also had locked himself into his own home so that is another reason why he turned it off. He started to cry because Oskar and Mr. Black started to have a relationship and Oskar asks him to help him. Oskar realizes that his hearing aids is turned off so he turns it back on for him. Mr.Black starts to cry when he starts to hear again. Oskar is the reason why he was able to hear again.
When Oskar goes through all of his different moods in a short amount of time I think that it is actually him and he isn't being dramatic. One thing that really goes with his moods is his mental illness. His moods switch constantly. It can be sad then all of the sudden it switches to happy. He gets super upset when people bring up his father. He gets protective of his feelings. When he got super upset he let it all out on his mother at the end of the chapter. It also seems like Oskar has some symptoms of PTSD. He's anxious and fearful most of the time, and is always scanning the environment for possible danger.
All of the Blacks showed up to Hamlet because they had talked to Oskar's mother and met him, and because of this they felt sympathy and love toward him. They wanted to support Oskar and be there for him, and I believe this is because most of the Blacks couldn't help Oskar in his quest to understand his father. This led them to want to help him in any other way possible, and going to Hamlet was one way they could do this. Also, I agree with everyone who said Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids because no one had given him a reason to listen in the past 24 years since his wife died. He started crying when he turned them back on because this meant that he once again had a purpose to his life and a person to share that purpose with. That is an extremely meaningful event, and most likely was his reason for crying.
Oskar fantasies such a violent ending to the play Hamlet he is apart of is because of the anger he has bottled up inside of him. He missed his father is what it really came down to. Oskar wanted someone to take the pain and blame for what happened to him and he thought that the school bully would be the best to take the pain away, I must say when I first read the section I thought he really did beat the kid up but I went back and re read it after the adults were all clapping.
Hamlet was played by Oskar's tormentor, who often left him feeling helpless and angered. By envisioning such a violent ending, it helped Oskar feel strong. It also made him feel that he could finally stand up to a bully. Oskar even imagined the crowd cheering him on as he stood up against the bully, which made him realize that there really are people that will stand behimd him. I think the Black's showed up to the play out of sympathy for Oskar. I also found it touching that Oskar's grandma attended every performance of the play.
Oskar fantasies a violent ending because he starts to questions himself. Throughout the play he was asking what's the point of dreaming and feeling if he feels so alone. This anger, I feel, comes from the lost of his father. But with that anger it is normal to wish nasty things upon others because of it. Even when he asks himself what's so horrible about being dead forever and not feeling or dreaming. I feel that he takes his anger out of Jimmy because he was making fun of his grandma and he didn't like that because his grandma means a lot to him. He wanted someone to feel his pain. Because no one understands what he is feeling; which, is shown when beating up Jimmy he questions everyone and their meaning.
I believe Mr. Black turned off his hearing aid to be closed off from the world. Some people have already mentioned it, but he wanted his life to revolve around his dead wife, and he thought that there were a lot of really bad people in the world. If I remember correctly, he said something to the effect of, "it's not a horrible world, it's just filled with horrible people."
I think the reason Mr. Black cried was pretty straightforward, too. He hadn't heard anything in over 20 years, and he hears again after all that time. I'd definitely cry if I were him.
Wishing death upon someone is cruel and I send it to no one but the most cruel and villainous individuals in this world, and even then it’s a stretch. When Oskar told his mother that he wished she were dead, I was shocked. I knew it was going to slip out eventually, but I was still stunned. Despite his mother’s mistakes and weak spots here and there, she truly is a great mom. She loved Oskar her entire life, just as much as her husband did, and she felt grief for the loss of her husband just as Oskar did. She fell in love with him, too. It was hard on her, too. She had to deal with the pain, TOO. The only excuses I can come up with in Oskar’s defense is that he’s young and his adrenaline was high at the time. Even then, he’s a remarkably intelligent child and he should have known better. At the end of the day, it’s a little hard to blame him. He had been bottling everything up for the longest time, and he thought his mother was ignoring the loss of her husband; pretending it never even happened. I think, in a twisted way, it helped Oskar’s mother see that she needed to open up to him and talk to him about the tragedy instead of repressing it 24/7. Instead of wishing his parents had switched places, I think what Oskar meant to say was that he wished his father was alive, and they could be a family together again, but when his mind was racing and filled with hurt and rage, it was easier to wish for death than to wish for life.
Oskar's interaction with his mom was very interesting to me. I didn't fully understand why Oskar wanted to be buried above ground in the first place, but from there it really evolves into an interesting argument about the day that Oskar's father passed. When the two settle down it picks back up again and Oskar says perhaps the worst possible thing he could say. It is that he wishes his mom died instead of his dad. I understand that he must feel terrible looking back on his father's death and talking to his mom about coping with the loss, but there is no excuse for saying something so horrible. AS far as his mood changes go I believe they are completely genuine. I don't think he was just trying to be dramatic because the subject was such a serious one. He was looking back at losing his best friend, that's something that can stir up a huge variety of emotions. Some of which are inexplicable and can change in a second, so there is no way Oskar was just acting.
I agree with many of my peers in that the Blacks feel compelled in a sense out of sympathy for Oskar to attend the play. The feeling of loss is something most people can relate to; whether it be losing a loved one or losing yourself. Loss in itself can be difficult to understand, it can be even harder to watch. Oskar is clearly consumed by the death of his father, and his efforts to remain close to him are heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. The Blacks, I believe, felt obligated to bring light into Oskar's life the only way they knew how to; to attend the play. In another way, the Blacks could be searching for something themselves. Life becomes routine after a certain age compared to youth, and Oskar's whim is inspiring. He's vulnerable, and not afraid to express himself in his own terms. I think that's enough to inspire anybody who came to meet the suffering nine-year-old. An inspiration that could change the way other's viewed their superficial lives at the moment. Hamlet was a way to stop and appreciate life, by watching the ruins of another.
Oskar envisioned such a horrific and tragic ending to Hamlet because he doesn't know how to convey his frustration about his current situation properly. He is annoyed that he cannot find the right Black or the correct locket for his father's key. He is also frustrated with his family life. His dad dying is a tragedy that he cannot move past, and his mom and her boyfriend only serve to aggravate Oskar further about it. He seems to be at a point in his life where nothing is going right for him. Oskar is very annoyed by this, but, possibly because of a mental disability, he does not know how to tell people and work through it. When the bully made fun of his grandma I believe it was the tipping point for Oskar. He became angry, but he does not usually show emotion. Instead, he envisions it, which is why he made up a very violent version of Hamlet in his head. This is how he channels his anger and so it would only be natural for him.
When reading the end of the chapter I felt sad and bad for the mother at the same time. Because even if she is having someone by her side to help her get through it Oskar isn't accepting her needs also. I feel like she is trying to get through it and move on but Oskar is making it hard for her because all he wants is his father. So during the argument at the end of the chapter it kind of made me mad at Oskar because that is his mother and all she does is love him and she tried to explain to Oskar that she is trying to more on. But Oskar makes is clear he doesn't want any part of it. I understood why she was hurt and why I felt like this because you never want to hear hurtful things towards you. That you pretty much are called a liar and that your own son would rather have you dead than his father. Because I feel that if your a mother all you want is for your kid to be happy and Oskar is not putting any effort out. When he gave her an ultimatum I felt that was extremely wrong because everyone deserves a second chance when it comes to certain things.
The way Oskar spoke to his mother was very surprising, but at the same time acted almost like a wake up call for his mom. She needed to stop ignoring the fact that her husband died and that her child no longer has a father. She isn't helping Oskar through the grieving process. Oskar handled the situation in the wrong way, to tell his mother he'd rather have her dead rather than his father was ruthless, I feel bad for her. No ones deserves being told that, even at such a young age due to his superior intelligence he understood the affect that those words would have on his mother.
I think that the Blacks felt compelled to go to Oskar's play because Oskar made such a huge impact on them even though their time spent together was very short. Oskar spent so much time overall looking for the correct Black and the ones he met saw the courage and effort Oskar put in. The Blacks simply wanted to show their respect to the young man and all of his hard work and dedication.
Jimmy Snyder bullied Oskar and verbally against his grandma. Oskar did not take lightly to Jimmy's actions and would not accept his behavior. Oskar made the ending to Hamlet a representation of how he wanted things to happen to make things right in his own mind towards Jimmy. Oskar also imagined the crowd saying they would protect him and this tells me that Oskar felt the desire to be accepted by his peers because he had very few friends and lived a lonely life outside of his family.
I think old Mr. Black turned off his hearing aids after his wife's death because she was such a huge part of his life and he felt like a part of himself was missing. After her death, he didn't need to hear anybody else but his own thoughts. I believe the only thing he could truly hear was his wife's voice and the only way he could hear her was to block out the rest of the world. Mr. Black only needed one person in his life to make his own life worthwhile and without her he was nothing. Mr. Black was crying because of his own thoughts breaking him down. The only thing he could hear was the only thing he cared about and the only thing he cared about was gone.
The reason that all of the Black's came to the play Oskar was in was because Oskar impacted their lives individually. Each and everyone of them experienced apart of Oskar that they loved. In a sense they fell in love with his passion and his love for his father. Oskar had touched their hearts even if he was on their door step for only a few minutes. Each and everyone of them came in respect for Oskar. They felt that he took time for them even if it was unexpected, and so they needed to return time to Oskar in respect to him, and in honor of his father.
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