Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- the Grandfather
The Reconciliation Within the Grandfather
There is no doubt that the book “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safranfoer focuses more on the story with Oskar, however it also includes a compelling side story of the life of the Grandfather. From reading the different events that occur throughout his years, the readers can sense a feeling of wrongdoing and reconciliation. The underlying story about the grandfather explains his reasoning behind his wrongdoing, what he did to commit to it, and his actions afterwards to reconcile on behalf of it.
The early events of the grandfather’s life were complicated for him, and resulted in his mind being corrupt. Through the quote, “Does it break my heart, of course, every moment of every day, into more pieces than my heart was made of, I never thought of myself as quiet, much less silent” (Safranfoer 17), the seclusion between him and the world is starting to become noticeable. After suffering the loss of his first love, as well as his child, left him with an unbearable sadness so early in his life. This causes his views on living to be altered; as he thought of it as something that is a shame to partake in. His inability to even talk anymore; starting with the name “Anna” and slowly reducing to nothing, verifies that her death triggered his isolation. With that, he was left empty and reluctant to allow anyone to fill that void.
Years after the Anna’s death, the grandfather started his relationship with the grandmother. Still isolating himself, he explained at the end of the book, his reasoning for leaving the grandmother prior through a conversation with Oskar, “‘How did he die’ ‘I lost him before he died’ ‘How?’ ‘I went away’ ‘Why?’ He wrote, ‘I was afraid’ ‘Afraid of what?’ ‘Afraid of losing him’” (Safranfoer 322). This is a strong quote explaining how the grandfather was too scared to love someone again. The rules that he and the grandmother placed with the something and nothing areas gave him his own type
There is no doubt that the book “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safranfoer focuses more on the story with Oskar, however it also includes a compelling side story of the life of the Grandfather. From reading the different events that occur throughout his years, the readers can sense a feeling of wrongdoing and reconciliation. The underlying story about the grandfather explains his reasoning behind his wrongdoing, what he did to commit to it, and his actions afterwards to reconcile on behalf of it.
The early events of the grandfather’s life were complicated for him, and resulted in his mind being corrupt. Through the quote, “Does it break my heart, of course, every moment of every day, into more pieces than my heart was made of, I never thought of myself as quiet, much less silent” (Safranfoer 17), the seclusion between him and the world is starting to become noticeable. After suffering the loss of his first love, as well as his child, left him with an unbearable sadness so early in his life. This causes his views on living to be altered; as he thought of it as something that is a shame to partake in. His inability to even talk anymore; starting with the name “Anna” and slowly reducing to nothing, verifies that her death triggered his isolation. With that, he was left empty and reluctant to allow anyone to fill that void.
Years after the Anna’s death, the grandfather started his relationship with the grandmother. Still isolating himself, he explained at the end of the book, his reasoning for leaving the grandmother prior through a conversation with Oskar, “‘How did he die’ ‘I lost him before he died’ ‘How?’ ‘I went away’ ‘Why?’ He wrote, ‘I was afraid’ ‘Afraid of what?’ ‘Afraid of losing him’” (Safranfoer 322). This is a strong quote explaining how the grandfather was too scared to love someone again. The rules that he and the grandmother placed with the something and nothing areas gave him his own type
Cited: Frye, Northrop. "The Vocation of Eloquence." The Educated Imagination. Toronto: House of Anansi, 2002. 93. Print. Safranfoer, Jonathan. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. Print.