Why does it take so long (131 pages) to bring up the memorial service?
What is it about Hobie that makes him so trustworthy from the get-go?
Hobie talks about things that Theo has been shielded from since the bombing. Are there any areas he touches on that affect Theo more than other areas?
Hobie says: "...yet isn't it always the inappropriate thing, the thing that doesn't quite work, that's oddly the dearest?" What do you make of this statement? How does it fit with the story thus far?
We get more detail about Theo's father...what details are most surprising? How have those details shaped Theo?
What do you think compels Theo to lie about being Pippa's friend? Explain.
Theo notes that his mother was so liked by Andy because she was everything Andy needed that his own mother wasn't. How is Mrs. Barbour everything Theo need right now?
Theo is feeling better, but he feels guilty about it. Sometimes simple pleasures make him smile, and other times these same pleasures make him cry. Why do you think that's the case?
p. 152: "He grimaced -- a twinge that vanished the moment I saw it." What does this suggest about Hobie?
If Pippa can't remember Theo from "before", why do you think she feels so connected to him?
On p. 160, the author makes reference to Calvary. What is Calvary, and how does it fit this situation?
How would you characterize the friendship between Andy and Theo? What does Andy bring to the table?
If Pippa is the granddaughter of the hairdresser, whom the family despised, why is Margaret so determined to take Pippa in? What's in it for Margaret?
How would you characterize the friendship between Hobie and Theo? What does Hobie bring to the table?
What are some ways that you think Theo could give the painting back without getting in trouble? Do you think he would get in trouble if he just told the truth when he gave it back?
Knowing Hobie's story of his relationship with his father, how do you think that relationship has shaped him?
"...who knows where it will take you?" What does Hobie mean by this? Where do you think Theo is headed (metaphorically)?
"He pushed open the door, and I walked out of the house -- for the last time, as I thought. But though I had no idea I'd ever be seeing him again, about this I was wrong." This is how the chapter ends. So clearly Theo will see Hobie again, but there seems to be a tone to the way he states this. What tone do you see here? What might it suggest?
87 comments:
The mother Andy always needed was one that showed love openly and supported him in all areas, basically the opposite of the mother he has. What Theo needs right now is someone who will protect him from all of the reporters and papers that would berate him over the event. He needs a mother who will be honest instead of trying to sugar coat everything. Andy's mother gave Theo all the room he needed to get over his tragedy and gave him pushes in the right direction when he needed it. Theo was in a really fragile state and Mrs. Barbour treated him as one of her own. I would even say that Mrs. Barbour treated him better than her own children since Theo didn't get scolded nearly as often as the other children.
It takes the narrator so long to talk about the memorial service because it was probably very painful to look back on. His mother was the person that he cared about the most in the whole world. Memorial services are never fun they are sad and emotionally draining. I certainly don't like talking about them. Theo had also had many other things going on he had to get adjusted to his new home and talking to the school counselors,social workers, and the detectives. The memorial service was probably not exactly the first thing on his mind.
The simple pleasures that make Theo happy are ones that have no connection to his mother or come at a time when he is not focusing on his mother, but if they bring about any memories of his mother or if he feels happy when she's on his mind he feels bad about it. I think it's because subconsciously he feels guilty for being happy whilst his mother is dead, like he's betraying her memory by being happy, which is not what she'd want for him. Even though Pippa cannot remember who Theo is I think seeing him moments before the most traumatic experience in her makes her attach to him. Even though consciously she cannot remember who he is I think her subconscious remembers his face from that day. I think what Hobie brings to the table for their friendship is a sense of fatherly love and appreciation. Theo has never gotten any of those things and he really needs someone to be there for him at this point in his life and Hobie is that for him.
Andy and Theo’s friendship is quite odd and forced in my opinion. They use to be best friends and obviously they had drifted apart. Unfortunately a horrible situation had brought them back together but it didn’t exactly mend their friendship. Theo turned to the only family who he could think of and it happened to be the Barbours. Theo needed support and unconditional love in his moments of weakness and it felt like Andy really wasn’t person to give him that. I also think that Andy felt the need to be there for Theo, but it wasn’t natural for him to comfort him like it would be to comfort a best friend. Their friendship seemed very misplaced and sort of awkward at times. Andy wasn’t even there to say a final goodbye to Theo. It just shows that some friendships can come and go.
When Theo leaves Hobie’s, he doesn’t know whether he’ll see Hobie again or not. But he says that he was wrong, which means that he does see Hobie again. Theo uses a dark tone, not exactly cynical or melancholy but something else. It suggests that the next time Theo sees Hobie, it won’t be a cheerful visit. It makes me wonder when Theo will visit and what will happen.
Hobie’s relationship with his father helped shape him in many ways. His father was manipulative, especially when it came to money. He never payed Hobie for his work and manipulated him when it came to college money. First his father said that he would have to earn the money by working. But then his father said that Hobie’s work was paying him back for the first two years. It was a vicious cycle. Hobie’s father was also a bully who thought he was better than everyone else. He had no qualms about making sure people knew that. I think that these two things showed Hobie what he didn’t want for his life. He knew how bad being bullied felt and probably didn’t want to make anyone else feel that way. I also think that it filled Hobie with resent towards his father. Hobie never got to go back to college and he never really got to figure what he wanted to do with his life.
Many small things bring joy to Theo throughout this chapter: Pippa, Hobie, helping Hobie, sailing, etc. It's the small things that make the biggest difference in his healing over the loss of his mother, but at the same time when he has the chance to look at back at all these things, he feels sad because he can't tell his mother about all the amazing things that he's experiencing. He feels guilty because he's moving on from her, being happy without her. If someone close to me died and I was out enjoying my life, I would feel guilty too because I wasn't out being sad all the time, I would feel like I should be remembering them all the time. I'm happy for Theo, I'm happy that he was able to have a few things that bring him joy, that's what his mother would have wanted him to do, someone who was happy all the time wouldn't want their son to be sad just because they were gone. All good things come to an end though...
I don't believe that there really is any way that Theo can safely bring the painting back to the museum. Whether he leaves it somewhere anonymously or tells the truth both are ridiculous notions. Where would he drop it off? It's New York there are going to be witnesses, someone will be able to point the police back to him. If he told the truth no one would believe him. If you were a cop and a child told you that he stole a famous painting because a man who was dying told him to would you think he is telling the truth? Theo knows he can't sell the painting because that is how other thieves have been caught. If i was in his position then I would just get rid of the painting. I think he should just burn it, tear it up, or throw it into the ocean when he goes sailing with the Barbours. A priceless painting is something that one can't easily get rid of. There is no good answer.
The thing that Theo finds so trustworthy in Hobie is that they are experiencing the same grief at the moment. Hobie lost his best friend and Theo helps Hobie remember Welty's final minutes on the planet.
Theo wants to become closer to Pippa. Therefore it is perfect to lie and say they were friends. But I don't see it as lying since they were interacting at the museum. However Pippa most likely would not remember that. Pippa and Theo share a connection of loss. Pippa lost her uncle that was more or less her father and Theo lost his mother. They understand each other on another level. People will tell you they understand how your feeling but they truly don't because they haven't experienced it. However Pippa and Theo both understand and know the pain each other is experiencing.
Hobie is a naturally trustworthy person. Though he has a larger build and seems quite intimidating because of this, Hobie always has a quiet kindness radiating from him - something that Theo sensed from the beginning. As Theo got to know Hobie, Theo saw that Hobie, while almost always in the dark behind closed doors, is actually very personable and easy to get along with, despite his appearance. In a way, Hobie is very much like his mother, and like the father that Theo never got the chance to have. Because of these attributes, Theo has no worry that Hobie always has his back, even when the events unfold later in the novel.
I think Theo felt the need to tell Pippa he was her friend so that it would make their interaction easier rather than explaining everything to her, and recalling bad memories for the both of them. Theo didn't want to bring up the bombing or anything that had to do with it so the best option was to say he already knew her. I also think Margaret was so enthusiastic to take Pippa in for the soul reason that Hobie cannot care for her. It seems as though she wants to get "revenge" on the family and this is finally her chance to have control over something. Margaret seems like the type of person that feeds off control and taking care of Pippa would give her the perfect opportunity to do so.
I think it takes so long for the memorial service to come up because it was so painful for Theo. Theo's mother was his best friend, the one he cared about the most. To continue to think about the memorial would just be reminding him that his mother was gone forever. Because of how painful of a realization that is, it is easier for Theo to not dwell on it or think back to it. I think that is why they only briefly refer to the memorial. It is not surprising that Theo doesn't talk much about it with anyone either because it is an awkward topic. Also it was the closest person he had, it wasn't his father who is already so disconnected from the family and Theo.
Theo lies about being Pippa's friend because he wants to protect her explaining how they did meet, at the art museum right before the explosion. He was afraid it would trigger a memory of the what happened and cause her even more pain than she is currently in. After all, Pippa is distraught that she has to go to Texas with Margaret. She is probably determined to take Pippa in for the same reason Mrs. Barbour too in Theo, for philanthropic causes and helping an "orphan's plight." Or, she could just be doing it out of obligation since Pippa has no other family members willing to taker her in.
With so much on his mind and as difficult as a memory that is, it makes sense why it took so long. No one wants to remember something so harsh, it isn't a subject that can just be brought up on a whim. Not to mention that the loss was his very mother, the last precious person he had in his life. At his age and understandable coping mechanisms, it's almost better for him to try and not remember it for how painful it is. And how could Theo ever bring it up around anyone to get it off his chest? There was no as important as his mother anymore.
I think that Theo suffers from survivor's guilt sometimes, and that's why he'll smile about some things, then cry at others. I think he imagines his mother (or someone else) with him, enjoying the simple pleasures in life, and feels so connected to them that he smiles. Other times, when he doesn't feel so connected, he cries at the same things. It's only natural to ask yourself why you were the one to survive, and not others, especially in a case such as Theo's. It's only natural to constantly wonder what you could have done differently so that you could spend more time with this person, and their life wouldn't be cut quite so short. Unfortunately, this is an unavoidable aspect of survivor's guilt - an aspect that Theo focuses on too much. This is why Theo laughs at times, but cries later at the same thing.
There is something odd but true about Hobie's belief that the thing that doesn't fit in with the others is often the most precious. I think that part of the reason for this is the simple fact that people tend to find their attention drawn to what is different from the norm. In addition to that, something unusual tends to provide relief from the sameness of everything else. How often have we heard someone say that the world would be a boring place if everyone was like everyone else? We've heard this because it's true. Everyone needs a diversion from their standard routine every once in a while, so it would make sense that we would need variation in what we see, too. When looking at a group of similar objects, our eyes unknowingly long for something different, something new. Thus, when something stands out from the group, we are all too happy, even grateful, to see it.
This statement ties in with Theo's story in that all of the people he holds dear are a bit quirky. Firstly, there was his late mother: bubbly and outgoing in some ways, yet shy in others; even her looks seemed to be a mixture of two different people's. Then there is Pippa, to whom Theo grew attracted because of her unique appearance and actions; this strong attraction ends up saving his life. Soon, Mrs. Barbour comes in, seeming cool and kindhearted at the same time and somehow always knowing how to care for Theo without losing her air of aristocracy. Finally, Hobie has been added to the picture, with his rare caring nature and equally unusual love of antique wood. Obviously, the standard New Yorkers (rushed, sometimes unfeeling, sometimes overly concerned) aren't the type of people Theo wants to befriend, so he instead grows close to those rare people who have their oddities and understand his odd situation. He chooses the people that don't belong over the people that do.
I believe that Theo lies about being Pippa’s friend because the thought of not being able to see her after everything he has lost would just be crushing. He feels like they really are friends anyway, they had a connection before the bombing. In addition, they share a common experience that makes her a part of his life (And not a part that can easily be removed).
When Hobie grimaced, it allowed Theo to see that he was not the only one having a hard time with recent events. Hobie lost his best friend and Pippa all in the matter of a few days. Hobie is similar to Theo because they both are sad about things yet neither of them are ready to talk about it. They become great friends filling each other’s voids.
It takes so long for the memorial service to be brought up because Theo is not mentally ready to discuss it. Theo had his own way of grieving, he did it internally. He is a very private person when it comes to feelings and the memorial service made him feel uncomfortable, crying in front of everyone was just something he couldn’t do. It bothered him seeing people there that he didn’t even like or people who barely knew her.
Hobie comes across as trustworthy from the very beginning partially because of his appearance, he may have been intimidating but definitely did not come across as a jerk. There was a comforting feeling that Theo felt when he was with Hobie. His building reminded Theo of his apartment. Most important, Hobie wasn’t like everyone else, he didn’t know anything about Theo, yet he was still nice but not overbearing. He came across as a true trustworthy friend from the very beginning.
Hobie and Theo are truly friends, Hobie is the only person that can have real conversations with Theo since the accident. Hobie having lost his best friend and practically his daughter as well just wants someone to talk to. Theo finds relief in Hobie, someone he can vent to about all he's been through.
Theo could turn the painting in many times without any punishment. I believe he would be looked at like a hero for "saving" the painting rather than stealing it. The police and investigators would be very sympathetic of his situation and praise him for his bravery.
It takes 131 pages for Theo to bring up the memorial service because, for the first part of the novel, he is still in the repressive stage of grief. I really liked how Tartt did this to show what a significant of a bond he had with his mother and how slowly Theo processed her loss.
Hobie is a trustworthy character from the beginning because it isn't a forced relationship like with Andy or his father. It flows gently and realistically and they don't try too hard to get along with one another. Hobie is trustworthy because he takes Theo in and does his best to comfort him by telling him about his not-so-great of a father and broken home life. He is also trustworthy because of his size and shape, which comes off as very strong and sheltering; exactly what Theo needed at the time.
I think the times Theo spent with Pippa and Hobie were the most beneficial to his mental health and happiness. Hobie helped him over the loss of his mother and gave him specific advice from his life with his own father in order to better relate to Theo and give him a sort of step stool to look over the brick wall that he'd been staring into for too long.
Thep may have lied to Pippa about being her friend from before the accident because he thought that if he had allowed her or Hobie to know that he had only first seen Pippa the day at the museum then they may have made him leave. Also, Theo felt something different about Pippa, something that pulled him in, as she felt towards him after her injury. Even though she didn't know him before, she felt as if she did because they both share something. Perhaps that is being losing someone they care about or maybe it is just the shared feeling of the explosion that day. It could even be something deeper such as when Pippa was lying below the rubble, she met Theo's mother since she was so close to and surrounded by death. Whatever the case may be, I feel there is something great to come from these two now knowing each other. Even though Margaret has taken Pippa away and sent her to a boarding school over seas, Pippa will be back for a bigger role than currently shown.
Theo is in pain because his mother is dead, so talking about the memorial service could be a challenge for him. He cared for his mother more than anyone else. Also, funerals and memorial services can be emotionally draining and you need time to recuperate. he had to adjust to a ton of things as well which can also be emotionally tiring. Talking about the memorial service could have made the pain deeper.
I think the reason Mrs. Barbour is everything that Theo needs is because she is caring, is always looking out for him, knows what is best, and most importantly is nothing like his own mother. Simply talking about his late mother makes Theo very upset; having a foster mom that would remind him of his actual mother would probably be even more difficult to live with than the constantly recurring topic of his deceased mother. The busy, upper-class, party throwing life style of Mrs. Barbour is nothing like Mrs. Deckers life style, thus allowing Theo to live a bit more comfortably in the Barbour household.
I agree with Allison’s statement on why Theo thought it would be best to lie about their friendship. It wouldn’t be right for him to say that they had only first met each other minutes before the traumatic explosion that had left Pippa with a crushed leg, skull fractures, and a blurry, failing memory. She had already gone through so much and if Theo were to speak the truth about how they had actually met the memory could have in turn caused Pippa great panic and pain as she would be forced to recall her near death experience. I am sure most people would understand this reasoning and I believe this was why Hobie didn’t call Theo out on his lie when he had heard Theo’s response about their friendship.
What Hobie means when he says "...yet isn't it always the inappropriate thing, the thing that doesn't quite work, that's oddly the dearest?" he means that the thought is what counts. For example if Theo's dad were to attempt something with Theo and it was not smooth sailing then Theo could still see that his dad is trying to impact his life. I think that Theo needs to find the silver lining in every situation that he encounters, he has been through a tremendously hard life but if he stays positive he might be able to get out of the pit he is constantly digging himself in.
I think that Hobie (who I immediately pictured as Hagrid just do to his mannerisms) is so good at comforting Theo because of his rough relationship with his father during his childhood. He knows what he would want to hear in his position because he's been there. He remembers how his father treated people and made his greatest effort to do nothing like that. It is very different on how the lack of attention from Theo's father apparently affects him since he becomes some sort of criminal.
Theo had met Pippa in the Art Museum right before the bombing. I think that he thought they had a special connection because they both had their only guardian die in the bombing that they survived in. I think that he lied to her about being friends because he didn't want her to freak out about not knowing each other. I think that he also didn't want to tell her about meeting before the bombing because he didn't want to bring up the memory to her or himself. I think that Pippa didn't refuse the idea of being friends with Theo because she remembered meeting him sometime in her life. Or maybe she just wanted to get to know him?
Hobie and Theo's friendship is very similar to the relationship of a grandfather/grandson. Theo has always lacked a father figure in his life and I think that Hobie fills the place of that. From Hobie, Theo has someone to look up to and learn from. Also, Hobie has never had a grandson, so it's nice that he now has someone to tell stories about his life to and share his secrets he learned from the shop. When Theo says that "I had no idea I'd ever be seeing him again, about this I was wrong.", has a very dark tone to it, as Abbey said earlier. It sounds like the next time he sees him it will be very unexpected and not for a good reason. After reading farther into the book, this prediction is correct.
Theo never "met" Pippa before, but he certainly saw her before the bombing. They were both at the art museum with their guardians and watching each other. He probably felt a special connection to her because they both lost the most important part of their lives that day, and also because he didn't go with his mother because he wanted to stay behind to talk to Pippa. In a way, Pippa saved his life. I believe that Pippa didn't refuse the idea of them being friends because she needed a friend at the time and faintly remembered him. Maybe she was just as fascinated with him as he was with her... After all she kept looking at him when they were at the museum.
I'm going to take the most fun topic on the list because I just now saw it, how to give the painting back, now an obvious way would just be to come out and say what happened, replace another name for Blackwell's and just say it was a random person and then he'd be in the clear. If he doesn't want to be that brash he could just say it was planted in his bag instead. If he really didn't want to be tied to the painting at all, he could wipe off his prints from the painting, leave it in a bag in some public place and have someone else "discover" it. Overall Theo has had plenty of opportunities to bring the painting back and has no reason to still have it.
Responding to Jacob and the question(s) "What are some ways that you think Theo could give the painting back without getting in trouble?..."
Jacob says, "I think he should just burn it, tear it up, or throw it into the ocean when he goes sailing with the Barbours", which, in my opinion would not be a bad idea IF it wasn't for the significance of the painting. If the painting had been a random painting by an unknown artist, then Theo would have numerous options to get rid of it. But, on the contrary, it is not just any painting. It is a painting that his mother adores. She speaks of how she used to sit with an art book and simply stare at this particular painting for hours. I think the reason Theo is terrified and exciting by this painting is because it is almost a piece of his mother. He cannot destroy it, because then he would be destroying her. He wants to part with is, yet he can't. He can't part with it, because he would be parting with a piece of his mother.
Of course, on top of the sentiment that is attached to the painting, there is the haunting truth that Theo could get into major trouble for taking the painting. He could tell investigators that he wasn't in his right state of mind, and that he was trying to preserve his mother's favorite painting; but would that be enough to clear his name? The whole situation is complicated, which is why I agree with Jacob when he says that there is no good answer for Theo.
I think that Theo lies about being Pippa's friend at the beginning because he doesn't want to bring up the conversation that he had with the old man that Pippa was with at the museum. He would have to explain how he knew her, which would lead to questions about the old man. I don't blame Theo for doing this, although I probably wouldn't have lied about it. In his situation, it is understandable that he wouldn't want to talk about it, him, for obvious reasons. However, I would have told Hobie everything right away, since he was obviously trustworthy enough in the first place.
When Theodore leaves Hobie its on a sour tone. When Theodore states that he will see Hobie again he says it in a very ominous tone, almost as if he, in some way, regretted having to come back in some way. After reading further in the book, I realized that he comes back after another of his family members died. He rode a bus all of the way to New York. When he got there he felt like he was impeding on them, but Hobie did not mind one bit he even tells Theodore to say as long as he needs. That ominous tone is most likely caused by the death of that family member.
I think that Andy always needed a mother like Theo's mom because she was uplifting and happy and personable where Mrs. Barbour could be a little cold and not so involved in her children's lives with all the social events and parties she hosts. Mrs. Barbour was the mom that Theo needed because she kind of gave him some space but still kept him protected. I agree with what Jacob said because she did seem to let Theo get away with things but would scold her children if they did the same thing. Theo's eating habits were not very nutritious and the younger Barbours would complain that they didn't Have the same luxuries of eating 6 pieces of bacon at breakfast. It kind of goes to show that she is allowing Theo to cope in the way he needs to even if it is through his diet. Even if Mrs. Barbour was slightly unattached to Theo and her children for that matter, it was the space that Theo needed to deal with the loss of his mother.
I think Theo tells Pippa that they were friends before the accident so she'd feel more comfortable around him. Although Pippa doesn't remember him, she feels connected to him because they have so much in common. They have similar artistic tastes and were both victims of a bombing in which they both lost their closest loved ones. Theo felt an instant connection to Pippa at the museum, and it is because of this that he was still alive. He had stayed in the exhibit that she was in in order to see her for even a moment longer and if he wouldn't have he would have died with his mother. I think this has a lot to do with why Theo is so infatuated with her.
I think it takes awhile for the Memorial service to come up because it is such a painful memory. Theo's mother and Theo were very close with one another and without her Theo basically has no one. Theo doesn't want to bring up the fact the his mother had died and that he will never see her again. The memorial service description was also brief and I think that is because he didn't want to keep bringing up, or dwell, on the fact that his best friend is gone.
Andy and Theo's friendship is not natural. You can tell they drifted apart but Andy feels the urge to help Theo, and Theo just needs someone to help him. Theo needed support and Andy couldn't really give him that and when he tried it was very forced.
I think it takes awhile for the Memorial service to come up because it is such a painful memory. Theo's mother and Theo were very close with one another and without her Theo basically has no one. Theo doesn't want to bring up the fact the his mother had died and that he will never see her again. The memorial service description was also brief and I think that is because he didn't want to keep bringing up, or dwell, on the fact that his best friend is gone.
Andy and Theo's friendship is not natural. You can tell they drifted apart but Andy feels the urge to help Theo, and Theo just needs someone to help him. Theo needed support and Andy couldn't really give him that and when he tried it was very forced.
The way the narrator speaks of his mother and how he knows everything about her proves that they were close and he cared for her deeply. It most likely took so long to bring up the memorial service because it opened wounds he didn't want too. Memorial services are hard and very emotional it takes time to recover from those. Maybe he wasn't ready to start all over. He already had to deal with him living in a new environment and basically a new family he had too much on his mind to deal with anything really.
The friendship between Hobie and Theo is almost like a father and son relationship. Hobie fills in the some void that the death of Theo’s mother left. Hobie provides kindness and listening ears. Hobie sees that Theo is hungry when Theo visits and gives him food to eat. Hobie also allows Theo to talk honestly to him and gives an impression that Hobie will have Theo’s back in times of need. Hobie gave Theo a hobby with antiques that helps him cope with his mother’s death.
When Hobie makes the statement that it is always the thing that doesn't fit in that is the dearest, what the author is really doing is referencing Theo. He is someone who doesn't fit. His life is overshadowed by grief for his mother, so he is definitely not like the other kids, and we (the readers) are drawn to him more than other characters. Why? Because he stands out instead of blending invisibly into the background. Yes, this could just be because he is the narrator, but I think that we all have a sort of pity for him, that he is so lost and lonely.
I believe it took so long to bring up the memorial service because of how recent the experience was. Theo loved his mother more than anyone else. She was basically the only family he had. I think talking about it would have brought up all the memories of his mother and the service, which was hard for him to deal with. Memorial services tend to be sad experiences, it must have been even worse for Theo since it was his mother.
The tone at the end of the chapter is definitely very foreboding. The narrator doesn't seem very happy about how ends up going back there, which is surprising to me because I thought he liked Hobie's place. I thought it was the first place he really felt comfortable since his mom died. The tone might suggest that whatever happens to bring them together again is a sad, tragic thing. Maybe something happens to Pippa and they meet again at her funeral. Maybe I'm wrong and nothing else bad happens, but it certainly doesn't seem to be the case judging from those closing statements.
Theo had a great relationship with his mom but it was more of a pal relationship than a parent/child relationship. They were so close that loneliness was not a word in her son’s vocabulary and he was so enveloped by his mother’s love and by their routines that he was completely affected by her loss. That's why I believe it took so long for the memorial service to come up; it was so painful for him to have to deal with. The memorial is only a indication on how he lost his best friend and he'd rather not keep getting the reminder.
Hobie seems to be the father figure Theo never had. It is more of a grandfather/grandson relationship, as Maddy said, making Hobie the strong male role model Theo never had. While this is a good relationship for Theo I believe it also benefits Hobie. It gives him someone to talk to, share stories with, and look out for. Hobie is kind and welcoming to Theo, he listens and tries to understand what Theo is going through. Theo has never had a relationship like this since his father wasn't involved in his life.
There is no easy way to fess up about the painting. I think part of Theo would love to just keep it and hang it on his wall, but it's not that easy when you stole a priceless paining just because your mother loved it and a half dead man told you to grab it. Like Jacob said, he cannot just leave it laying around New York somewhere anonymously, because it's the city and someone will manage to figure out who it came from. I think it's hard for Theo to have the painting around, partly because it could feel like a security blanket it to him cause him and his mom were looking at it together only moments before the bombing, but at the same time there is a lot of paranoia that comes with having a famous painting. The painting is put in the newspapers as missing and he is hiding it behind is bed with no easy way of getting rid of it. No matter what is done, Theo would get in some form of trouble.
After Theo sees Pippa for the first time after the accident he lies to her about being a friend of hers. The reason I believe he lies to Pippa is because he fears rejection from her. He feels that he must know Pippa in order to talk to her and that she would find him strange for seeing her as they were just strangers in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mrs. Barbour is everything Theo needs as she doesn't push Theo too much like everyone else in his life is at the moment such as his teachers and counselors. Mrs. Barbour lets Theo do as he pleases and lets him handle the situation how he feels fit and doesn't keep suggesting that he become more social or try and start sports. Theo feels guilty about feeling pleasures because he feels this is disrespectful to his mother. He feels that when he feels happy he should be sad because his mother is still gone and that he shouldn't be happy when she is gone from the Earth. Throughout the novel so far Hobie is one to hide his emotions from Theo and will hide his expressions as well as say the opposite of what is on his mind to make Theo feel better.
Hobie has lost someone close to him and understands Theo. Theo lies about being Pippa’s friend because he really wants to be close to her and knows he may not be able to be if he doesn’t lie about it. Although Pippa can’t remember Theo from before the bombing, she probably feels so connected to him because he was one of the last faces she saw before the explosion. Theo is bipolar about simple pleasures because he cannot be happy about things that remind him of his mom. I think that there has to be money in it for Margaret to take Pippa away, why else would she care so suddenly.
Theo feels guilty about being happy because he feels like he is betraying his mother. Since his mother died, he feels like sadness should be his only emotion. Theo's mother would've wanted him to be happy, but it's a hard concept for him to accept. Sometimes it's the little things that bring back the most memories. He wants to enjoy life's simple pleasures, but he wants to enjoy them with his mother by his side. As many people have explained, Theo's mother was Theo's best friend. If he sees something that makes him smile, he wants to be able to share the moment with his best friend. Once it sinks in that he can no longer do that, that same thing that just made him smile is now making him upset.
It takes so long to bring up the memorial service because it was obviously painful to look back on. They're no fun, and they're not supposed to be. Theo loved his mother more than anything, so thinking about that kind of stuff is gonna get him worked up. The relationship between Theo and Hobie is a good friendship. Theo is able to to release stress with him.
Andy and Theo's friendship is actually quite strange. It seems as though they are trying to force a connection that is just no longer there. Staying with Andy was a good temporary fix, but he needs someone he can connect with in the long run. Theo needs someone he can relate to, like Hobie. Theo and Andy can have small talk, but they can't have a heart-to-heart conversation. They have grown apart throughout the years, and they can just no longer comfort each other in the way that Theo needs.
No one wants to talk let alone think about a memorial service.To lose one of the most important people in your life and have to talk about it with the police and counselors can make you feel broken. He lost his mom and moved in with his grandparents while doing school. Thats something a kid should never have to go through. The emotions he must have been feeling were probably nerve racking. Sadness: he just lost literally a part of himself. Angry: she left him alone to guide his way though life. Confusion: he doesn't know what to feel about the chain of events as a whole. Self blame: he could have helped save her and take her pain away.
Theo can trust Hobie from the beginning because he has lost someone dear to him as well. Theo was there with Mr. Blackwell, who was Hobie's dear friend and partner at their shop. I believe that is why Hobie welcomed Theo in with open arms. I think it took so long to speak of the memorial service, because with everything going through Theo's head, it just didn't come up. The poor kid was traumatized from losing his mother, and I think the last thing he wanted to talk about was her memorial service.
Theo is feeling extremely guilty because on the inside he feels as if he shouldn't be allowed to be happy anymore. Each time the simple pleasures make him happy, he's one step closer to actually being able to live with himself. But also each time he cries, he takes a few steps backwards. I think this is his case is because he hasn't forgiven himself. Until he does he'll never be able to fully be happy and enjoy even the simplest of pleasures.
I think it takes the 130 pages for the memorial service to be discussed, because like in real life, Theo has to reflect and get past the events. His mother is dead and for any person that’s not an easy thing to handle. There are stages to grieving, and Theo is finally coming to terms with the fact that his mother is gone for good. He’s ready to look back on it. There aren’t many ways that Theo can get the painting back without getting into trouble. I think the odds of someone believing him if he tells the truth are very slim. Had it been an outside attack that had made it’s way into the museum, someone would find it more likely that he was trying to save the painting, but because it was an attack from within, I feel like he’ll just end up in trouble. If Theo leaves it in an alley, there’s a chance it could be destroyed or taken by someone else, which leaves him with the option of dressing in all black and dropping it off by the museum at night. Anything he does would be risky.
Hobbie is wise and kind, Theo is interested in his work and a sweet kid. However it should also be noted that they are both in mourning and have a much better understanding of what they are going through then others who have tried to help.
Hobie's grimace suggests many things about him and the situation, but what primarily rises to the surface is loss. As Theo had lost his mother, Hobie had lost a dear friend and respected business partner. Pippa is the last real connection he has to Welty and the relocation of Pippa strikes both Hobie and Theo hard. I think Hobie tries to shield it in a cheerful voice to hide his disappointment from Margaret.
I think Theo relates everything back to his mother. Therefore, when he does or sees something that makes him happy it can also make him cry. This change of emotion is due to Theo’s mother’s death. If something makes Theo happy, he then thinks of how his mother made him happy. These happy memories then lead Theo to sadness because he knows he’ll never experience those moments with his mother again.
Hobie and Theo are developing a great friendship. Hobie is the only adult figure that Theo truly trusts. It is easy for Theo to talk to Hobie. In addition, Hobie shares his life with Theo which Theo greatly enjoys. The conversations they have are not mainly about Theo’s mother and the bombing. Instead they are just normal everyday conversations that Theo can participate in without having anxiety attacks. Also, Theo and Hobie both lost someone in the bombing. Due to this connection they both can relate to each other really well.
I think Theo should tell Hobie about the paintings. He should also tell the truth about what happened. He wouldn’t get in trouble because he didn’t steal the painting instead he took it to protect it. Also, Hobie is a very responsible person. He wouldn’t freak out about the painting as I feel Mrs. Barbour would do. Hobie would handle the situation well and Theo would feel much better after telling someone about the painting.
Hobie is a trustworthy friend for Theo because he knows what he is going through. He lost a good friend in the bombing just like Theo lost his mother. Theo is able to relate to Hobie and actually have a conversation with him. They are both grieving which makes it easier to talk to each other because they are familiar with what is going on. Theo is actually able to talk about things he was unable to before because there is a connection between him and Hobie. He feels comforted by the idea that he is not the only one suffering from the bombing and is actually able to speak to someone who knows how he is feeling. Overall Hobie is trustworthy because he is able to relate to Theo and is able to comfort him in a way no one else has been able to.
It took 130 pages to bring up the memorial service because Theo would rather not bring it up. it is something he doesn't want to think about. A dead mother is a dead mother, to put quite frankly, and that is not something a kid should deal with. It is perfectly common. I have seen many people who have lost a close person in their life avoid the topic and bottle it up for a very long time.
I believe that Theo says that he is a friend of Pippa's because he doesn't want to embarrass himself. He's still a thirteen year old so coming out and saying that he saw her at the museum and thought she was pretty would be hard for him to do especially in front of the two adults. In introducing himself to Pippa as being her friend he also takes away the scariness of introducing himself to a person that doesn't know him and then being rejected by that person. He'd think something along the lines of "Well if she thinks I was her friend she can't start not liking me now." because of her memory loss he is able to make himself a false identity in her eyes because she doesn't quite remember who he actually is. It may also make both of them feel a little more secure around each other with a fake already formed friendship there is no need to feel like you are going to say something wrong to the other person.
It took this much time for Theo to bring up the memorial service because of the way he lost his mother. It was sudden and abrupt, so Theo didn't know how to take it all in. A memorial service was probably the last thing on his mind. Also, his mom was the only person that mattered to Theo, and losing that one person, like Sarah said, can emotionally drain a teenager.
Theo finds pleasure in things that are not associated with his mother. He feels that he should not be happy when thinking about his mother or else he will feel guilty. He feels that he is being insulting if he is happy while thinking about his deceased mother. He does not like talking or thinking about the death of his mother. It took all the way to this point in the book for Theo to bring up the memorial service. I feel as if Pippa is subconsciously attached to Theo even though she does not remember him. Tragic moments scar people and so even though she does not remember Theo, she feels attached to him.
The author makes a reference to Calvary or pictures of Jesus or the Christian faith, most notably for the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The author tries to show the gloominess of the death of someone he cared for so much and loved all of his heart with. Theo mentions the sky and how he looks at it like all of the fellow Christians had done when Jesus (Theos mom) was dead and hanging on the cross. The sky is kinda this godly element that author is trying to put into the book to make it seem more dark and not so easily understandable. It fits the situation though because he is sad and gloomy and he doesn't understand how the world works as he searches for answers, even while Andy is around him. As he stares into the sky all he can see is his mother behind the bitterness and cruelness of the world.
The memorial service took so long to be brought up because Theo hadn't accepted his mothers death yet. He still wanted to believe she was alive and would come walking through the door one day to take him home. The thought of a memorial would bring up feelings of her really being gone. That is not something Theo was ready to face. When his mother died his whole life changed in an instant. A memorial service was only in the back of his mind as he watched his whole life change in front of him.
Chapter 4
It took Theo so long to bring up the memorial service of his mother because the event was extremely tragic and hurt Theo extremely. Theo’s mother was the only real person that made Theo feel as if he did belong in the world and when she was taken so violently fast from the world Theo did not know what to do with himself. The only real person who strived to do what a mother should typically do is gone, and who is he left with now? His father or grandparents, who both do not care about him and made themselves distant or his now foster home with a family who still is not his own. Theo is hurt and when he avoided bringing up the memorial service there was a good reason, grief.
As is the case with many people still recovering from the loss of someone important to them, Theo is struggling with the prospect of moving on. He doesn't want to forget about his mother or tarnish her memory, but above all just wants her back. When these simple pleasures surface they lead to the guilt of being happy without her, which in Theo's mind equates to being happy she's gone. After all, if he can learn to be happy without her, that must mean he doesn't love her enough to still miss her. We know this isn't the case, but to a boy who has just lost his whole world, moving on is terrifying when it's without the one person you love the most.
I believe that in Theo’s case simple pleasures make him smile, and other times these same pleasures make him cry because he does enjoy having fun and enjoying life but with that he feels guilt for not grieving over his mothers death instead. This is mainly due to the fact that almost all of his pleasurable experiences that he has had in his lifetime until now have all been with his mother. Theo can’t see a way to be happy without her at this stage in his life because of this.
Hobie and Theo both lost people that were close to them in the explosion. Theo lost his mother that raised him after his dad abandoned the family. Hobie lost a dear friend and business partners. Both people are suffering and Theo needs some who understands. The Barbour’s don't, but Hobie does. Hobie also acts as a fatherly figure to Theo since his mother is dead and his father’s location is MIA. Pippa on the other hand can't remember Theo from the time before the bomb went off. As Theo lost a mother, Pippa lost her father. Most people say they understand the pain of losing someone so close, but they can't unless they went through it as well. In the case of Pippa and Theo they are both experiencing the pain and at the same time as well.
The fact that Hobie stopped his grimace of pain as soon as Theo sees it shows a lot about him. He doesn't want anyone to know he is in pain and he doesn't want sympathy. He is not selfish and it seems like he doesn't want to complain. He would rather suck it up and not let anyone know he is in pain than have anyone worried about him. The friendship between Theo and Hobie is comforting and safe. Hobie offers Theo a nurturing place for him to heal from the trauma he has gone through. He also offers a new start by opening his home and workshop to teach Theo about his craft. He is also the last connection to Theo's mother because he found Hobie by meeting Welty on the day his mom died. In a way she led him to Hobie. Their friendship is similar to a grandfather and grandson, which is just what Theo needs.
Theo is in a very uncomfortable situation as it is introducing himself to a stranger, and practically handing him a ring that clearly has great meaning. Although Hobie is a very welcoming person right off the bat, Theo is dishonest about his relationship with Pippa. I think this is due to multiple reasons, the most important being that Theo feels he is slightly responsible for not being able to help Hobie's business partner, Welty, survive the bombing at the museum. He felt a deeper connection with not only Welty, but Pippa as well that day.He found it difficult to explain to others why he felt so compelled to know the both of them, Pippa mostly. Another reason I believe he lies about knowing Pippa as a friend is because he really wants to see her again, and in her condition somebody who barely knew her is not the best company. I think the both of them having gone through something so tragic increases their interest in one another.
Andy’s mother, Mrs. Barbour, is everything that Theo needs in his grieving stages because she allows him the freedom to find his own way through the situation at his own rate in a caring family setting. Although Mrs. Barbour isn’t exactly motherly towards Theo she does do things to keep him emotionally safe. Theo realizes this later that she had protected him from the paparazzi in the times immediately after the explosion and then later as the family service agents keep nagging she tells them that Theo doesn't need to continue with their constant harassment about his father.
I think that Mrs. Barbour is exactly who Theo needs in his life right now. She is someone that Theo feels comfortable around, and just being around them helps him a lot. She is very caring and kind, like his mother was, and being around someone like her probably makes things easier for him. He sees her as a mother figure. She knows exactly what Theo needs in order to get through the pain of his mother's death. This is a much better choice than in the hotel or a foster home.
I agree with Steven. At the moment, Theo cannot handle experiences or objects that relate to his mother. It's understandable, considering how much he loved his mother. So I also believe he finds the most joy out of things that don't relate to her. When he can trace something back to his mother, he gets overwhelmed with the guilt of living life without her as well as how much he misses her. So any moment he can have that does not involve her has now become a small treasure of happiness for him. They are few and far between, but I think Theo appreciates them and will hopefully have more as he learns to deal with his mothers passing.
I would characterize the friendship between Andy and Theo as a need to go through school. Everyone in the school doesn't like them and they are the only one's there for each other. Both Andy and Theo are and were bullied in school. Both of them are in advanced courses where they could go to college when they are sixteen. They are quite younger than other people in their classes. Theo and Andy kind of split away from each other when they entered middle school. Andy didn't really have anyone and Theo had Tom Cable. A way to give back the GoldFinch painting without getting in trouble is to drop it off at the police saying he found it in central park after the explosion. I don't think Theo would get in trouble because he was injured and didn't know what to do. The curators would also be very happy that the painting wasn't destroyed in the bomb blast.
Mrs. Barbour is everything that Theo needs, because he needs structure. He needs someone to bring him into reality. Mrs. Barbour can provide for Theo and put him on a schedule to give him some sense of normalcy. It is interesting considering that Theo's mom gave Andy the much needed connections that his own mom couldn't give him. Mrs. Barbour gives Theo safety, security, and routine. Her logical thinking and unsentimental attitude help Theo because everyone else coddles him and Mrs. Barbour tries to keep him grounded.
When Hobie grimaces it makes him seem like he is hiding something.. especially because to grimace is to have a twisted expression, or an unpleasant one. As you continue to read the conversation gets weirder when his voice becomes cheerful (a complete 180 to his earlier expression).
Calvary is better known as the crucifixion of Jesus. So, when he says "A roiling sky straight from a painting of Calvary" he is describing his mental pain or suffering when thinking about Pippa leaving him. Also when using the words, "blue-black and threatening" you can tell Theo is in distress.
I would characterize Hobie as Theo's caretaker or fatherly. Hobie is like the father that Theo never had. Hobie and Theo can have a heart-to-heart conversation and they find relief within eachother. Each character finds a true friend in the other, and each character has someone that they can tell everything to.
The friendship is like that fantasy situation where you save someone's life and then they are indebted to you for the rest of it.
Andy is the absolute least comforting character on the face of the planet. I would hate to be stuck in Theo's position. Andy is socially awkward to the point of sounding apathetic, even though we know he cares about Theo because of the sacrifices he made to protect Andy. But at least he is a familiar face to Theo, which is definitely comforting. Because Theo was a friend in a lonely time for Andy, at least Andy brings loyalty into the friendship. Andy covers for Theo for weeks when he wants to go to Hobie's. Theo asks a lot of Andy, but Andy doesn't question because he feels like he is repaying a favor.
I believe that Theo lied and told Pippa that they were friends because it would make it 1. less tense and 2. less traumatic. I doubt that either one of them wanted to relive the bombing scene again and if he would have said no that they weren't friends and actually perfect strangers then it would be pretty awkward and uncomfortable for the both of them.
I also think that the reason Margaret wanted to take Pippa away because she is a nasty woman who only wants attention. She would have gone home to Texas and started putting herself on a pedestal saying that she was doing such a good deed for the young Pippa. she also probably has some sort of monetary outcome from having Pippa stay with her. She also got the old man's ring.
Theo and Hobie's relationship has such a good start because Hobie talks to him like he's a person and not like some problem. He doesn't shy away from topics. He always asks for facts and tells facts and this makes Theo open up to him. Their friendship is s great one that makes Theo's world change. Hobie is someone he can talk to about anything, that's what he brings to the table.
Theo's and Andy's relationship I would characterize as they're there for one another because Andy feels the need to. In a time like this emotions are fragile and Theo needs to lean on someone. Or find that love his mother gave him. He needs reassurance and protections. Andy is there to make sure he is okay. Even when Theo and Hobie were talking Andy kept texting Theo. Andy brings to the table of being a loyal friend. Andy will bring up old times it seems like to maybe think it will help Theo. But in Theo's case here doesn't want to hear it, because he is still so heart broken over his mother. Andy in the bedroom was talking about memories because I feel that Andy thinks that he has to be there because of Theo's mother and do a favor.
I agree with Sarah on why Theo took so long to bring up his mother's service. Like he basically said, his mother was the only person that made him feel important. His father never cared for him nor did his grandparents so now he's left with a family that isn't truly his like she said. Theo just never wanted to talk about the service because that means his mother is truly gone
Hobie is trustworthy from the very beginning because he has gone through a loss as close as Theo has, and he talks to him like an equal about very sensitive subjects from the beginning as well. This is how Theo's mother used to treat him, so he was very appreciative of it. Also, I think he lied about being Pippa's friend because he understood how much they both needed a support system at that moment. They had both lost huge role models in their lives, and they needed someone to be there for them. He lied so that they could be there for each other, and it ended up working out extremely well until she was taken away by Margaret. I'm assuming that Margaret was offered some sort of money that motivated her to take care of Pippa if she had treated the family poorly in the past.
I believe that Theo has a very hard time becoming comfortable with everyday life after his mothers death. As some things make him momentarily happy, they also make him upset becuase he feels as if his only emotion should be sadness and greif. Theo tries to associate himself with things that can't relate to his mother because until her death, she wasn't just his mother, but a best friend. Theo and his mother did everything together, therefore all of his memories consist of time he spent with her. I think that it took so long for him to bring up the memorial service because of how heart-wrenching it was for him to deal with.
Hobie is trustworthy from the get-go because he was as vulnerable as Theo was. He had lost someone who he loved very dearly. He wanted to know the truth about his dear friend and Theo wanted to know how about the ring he was given by Welty. They quickly became friends from the beginning and created an instant bond. Hobie was there to listen with open ears for Theo to talk and grieve over his mother's death.
Hobie and Theo's relationship is a very strong and real connection. Hobie doesn't talk to him as a wounded soul, he talks to him like a human being not like his school teachers. Right from the beginning Hobie opened up to him about his past like his relationship with his father and his employer Welty. They both like the company of each other. Hobie helps Theo deal with problems like talking about the explosion and his mother.
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