Oskar's grandma says something interesting when he offers to
get her magazines like he used to do: "I told him to bring a suitcase so
he could come back with one of everything." She follows this up by
stating: "I wanted him to be able to take his things with him." What
does this reveal?
What parallels do you see between the reactions she has when
the grandfather is thinking of leaving and those she has when she is leaving
her father to die?
What is the significance of her dream that is interspersed
here?
Why didn't she say anything to him before about him seeing
Oskar?
Why does he bury the letters?
What message is this chapter (which is a letter to Oskar)
trying to get through to Oskar?
11 comments:
Oskar's grandmother reveals to us by saying "I wanted him to be able to take his things with him," that when she had sent Oskar's grandfather to the airport to get her magazines she expects that he will leave her again. The grandfather tells her that he must leave and that she is killing him and when she leaves her father to die she tells her father that she must leave as well. The significance of the dream is that if everything could go back to the beginning there would be no tragedy. If you are to look at it as time going forward instead of in reverse as in the dream then you realize that as time moves on death and destruction are something that come with life and are simply unavoidable. Oskar's grandmother said nothing to Oskar's grandfather about seeing Oskar because she thought it best that Oskar be with his grandfather and that his grandfather be with his grandson. I also believe that Oskar's grandmother may have realized that her husband felt terrible for leaving his son behind and that this could be a point where he almost starts over in a way.
Oskar's grandmother saying " I want him to be able to take things with him" is her accepting that he will leave her again. She doesn't want to trap him with her now, she knows he doesn't love her so she wants to let him leave. Deep down she wants him to stay but she also wants him to leave so she can be happy. She has gone so long without him that now that he is back she is so overwhelmed. Also the last time she saw him he said that he would be back soon, but he never came back. So by letting him go she is trying to protect herself from being so badly hurt again. Oskar's grandfather keeps saying he is only going out for magazines but his grandmother doesn't want the false hope of him returning.
Oskar’s Grandfather buries the letters in his son’s grave to symbolize sending the letters to his son. Throughout his life he had been writing letters to his son but had never sent them. When he finally has the courage to send the letters its too late. As a result he buries the letters as a way of sending them to his son. Also it is a why to put the letters and the guilt behind him in order to start a new life with his grandson.
Oskar’s grandmother knows that Thomas is going to leave again, but doesn’t want the reminders of him anymore. She doesn’t want to live in his world. The “one of everything” is just like the games they used to play when they were together the first time. She’s continuing the “I’ll pretend I need something because you need something” attitude shared between her and her husband. She didn’t say anything about him seeing Oskar because she knew that the two of them needed to heal with each other. Thomas missed out on his son’s whole life and needed to say goodbye, while Oskar needed to find the answers to his questions. I think in some ways, she wanted to let Thomas be a grandfather for a little while to make up for him never being a father. Thomas buries his letters to say goodbye; to finally give his son the letters or establish a connection.
When grandma says that she wants grandpa to take his stuff, I figured she meant that she didn't want anything left that would remind her of him. When he left before, the whole house was reminders of him, so I saw it as that she didn't want to be surrounded by his things. When it came to grandpa leaving, it reminded her that she couldn't do anything about it. Her father was almost dead and she left. Grandpa is dead on the inside and she can't do anything about. She can't change people, when the damage is done, it's done. Also, I think grandpa buried the letters to lighten his "heavy boots".
By giving Thomas a suitcase, Oskar’s grandmother is thinking he is going to leave her again, and is having flashbacks of the last time. The parallel in reactions to hearing Thomas and her father resemble the same mannerisms of knowing it’s for the best, and having no choice. He buries the letters where his son should lay as symbolism of always having him on his mind, even when he was distant.
When Thomas offers to get her magazines she is reminded of the last time he left. She told Thomas to take a suitcase because she doesn't want any memories of him when he leaves. The parallels between the reactions is that they both left for the better. Thomas wanted her to have a full and loving life, but he believed the only way to do so was to leave her. When she leaving her father to die she knew that if she tried to save him she would be crushed as well.
The reaction she has between Thomas leaving and her leaving her father is almost the same. Tears are fading in both situations, but when Thomas leaves (love leaves her) and when she leaves her father ( she leaves love). Its almost like Oskar's grandmother is torn because she doesn't have a love that is constant (Besides Oskar).
I also agree with what arlee said in that she doesn't want his memories anymore. I would like to add that when he leaves she is broken, love to her is always going to be represented as something broken... whether it is through a trip to get magazines and not returning or a fallen ceiling and no way to help.
The grandma"s dream makes a nice little parallel for the end of the book. In grandma's dream color is sucked out of paper by crayons and time goes backwards in Oskar's fantasy time keeps going backwards until his dad is safe and happy. The grandpa buries all of his unsent letters as something of an act to finally send them to his son. It will help with his closure to not have those around. Every one know you can't take things with you but it's a lovely sentiment and it felt meaningful.
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