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The book states that Edgar "stood memorizing her features under the yellow lamplight." Why do you think he does this?
What is troubling about Edgar's dreams?
Why does Edgar get so careless with his chores, so careless that it ends up causing a fight that injures 3 dogs and Edgar himself? He knows how important his job is, and he wants to help his mother, so where does he go wrong?
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I think Edgar stands there and stares at his mother, memorizing her features because he is afraid that she is going to die, too. He doesn't want to lose his mother, especially after he just lost his father, but if she does die, he wants to remember exactly what she looked like, her expression and her mood.
I think Edgar gets so careless with his chores because he's really starting to be affected by his father's death. He is moping and becoming lazy because doing all this work makes him think about his father, so he doesn't want to do it at all despite the fact that he knows how important helping his mother is.
Trudy gets irritated when the doctor suggests that Edgar go to stay with Claude because she does not want to lean on anybody for support. She feels that the two of them need to prove to everyone else that they can handle themselves. If Edgar stayed with Claude, Trudy would feel that she failed in this mission. Claude is also closely linked with Gar. Having Claude around would mean having a constant, painful reminder of Gar. By the end of the chapter, Trudy is not angry as much as she is worried, especially when she sees the scene after the fight.
Edgar’s dreams reveal that Edgar is starting to blame himself and his disability as the cause of his father’s death. His thoughts are grave and running the kennel is visibly wearing out both Edgar and Trudy.
Trudy is a independent person who wants no support, and to handle everything by herself, even when she truly need help. She doesn't want to extend her arm out to anyone.
Trudy gets upset when the doctor suggests that Edgar lives with Claude because she wants them to be independent. She wants people to see that they can handle the dogs and life without Gar, and even that she can handle Edgar. Also the family didn't end with such great terms with Claude so she's unsure if she can trust her son with him.
Edgar gets careless with chores because he starts to sink into a depression. All the things he does makes him think about his father. He often falls asleep during the day, neglecting the dogs, and he just doesn't have the drive to do things right. As long as he gets it done he is satisfied. So although he thinks he's helping by getting the jobs done faster he actually hurts the dogs in the process.
When Edgar is looking at his mother under the lamp, I think that he is trying to instill her into his mind. Edgar probably thinks that if something could happen to his father that something could easily happen to his mother. With everything that has been happening, I think that Edgar has a lot on his plate. Dealing with the loss of a parent is hard enough, let alone the responsibilities that have been thrown at him. He just wants to do everything right, but he made a mistake trying to do it the easier and faster way.
Even right after Edgar's father died, Trudy still took care of the dogs to show everyone that her and Edgar didn't need any help. Later in the novel she still hasn't changed her mind because she is upset that people may think she needs support. She is trying to defend her dogs and her son by proving she can handle them. Also, she doesn't want Edgar to move in with Claude because the family did not end on a good note. Claude did arrive at the funeral which was a good gesture, but they haven't mended any bonds that were broken. Claude is also somewhat of a shady and unpredictable person. Trudy doesn't want Edgar to be with Claude for the sole reason that he is unstable. Edgar is sinking into a depression so he becomes careless with the dogs. He lost his motivation to even work with the dogs. It is like the fire and passion Edgar had for his dogs burned out when his father died. Edgar's dreams are about his fathers death and he is starting to blame the death on his disability.
Edgar's mother does not want him to stay with Claude because she wants to show everyone, especially Edgar, that they can make it through this hard time together. She doesn't want help from anyone even though I think she knows help would be a good thing.
I think where Edgar goes wrong with the kennel is that he associates everything in and about the kennel with his father. Edgar has a hard time moving on and instead dwells in the past and on what he could have or should have done to make things better.
Edgar stands there and stares at his mother, worried that he is going to lose her just like he lost his fathers. He is memorizing her features because he doesn’t want to lose everything he once knew. However, if she does die, he wants to remember exactly what she looked like, just like he remembers his father.
What’s troubling about Edgar’s dreams is that he’s having not just dreams but nightmares. He continually goes back to the night his father died and relives the issue he had with calling for help. He hits his chest trying to force the words out, the words that could have saved his father’s life,
Trudy is angry when the doctor suggests that Edgar stay with Claude because Trudy doesn’t want help from anyone else. I think she is in denial that she is sick and she expects everything to go back to normal once she is better. Accepting help from anyone, especially Claude, would be like giving up to her. Although, by the end of the chapter, they seem to have run out of options and asking him for help is the only thing they can do. Edgar’s dreams suggest that he blames himself for the death of his father. He dreams that if he had a voice, the ambulance would have been there to save his father.
Trudy appears to be angry when the doctor suggests that Edgar go stay with Claude because Trudy likes to be independent and do things herself. Also, she doesn't want to be around Claude because it reminds her of Gar. Towards the end of the chapter, Trudy does not maintain this anger.
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