I Fall Character Analysis

Even though the foundation of a skyscraper is invisible to the naked eye, the foundation affects the skyscraper’s ability to stand or to crumble. All it takes is one move, one day, and one person to have a small yet powerful affect on another person’s life. The ability for one to have such a profound affect on another person such as living or dying seems ordinary, but when the choice is personal that is a different story. As tall and as grand as a skyscraper may seem, one wrong move by the foundation and the skyscraper would all come crumbling down. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver showed just because Juliet Skyes appeared only briefly throughout the novel, she not only affects the actions and development of Sam Kingston’s life, friends, and
purpose but whether she lives or dies. Juliet Skyes is a significant presence in the novels plot and affects Sam’s actions. February 12th started off as any normal day would for Sam except that it would be her last.
She woke up the next morning on none other than, February 12th. Finding out she has a second chance, actually seven chances to relive the day she dies. Each day Sam gets a new chance to uncover the secret surrounding why she died.
Juliet Skyes appeared only briefly throughout the novel but her actions affected Sam’s life and choices. Sam Kingston, an ordinary high school senior, had her whole life planned out, where she was going to college, what job she would have, who her future husband would be. February 12th was an average Friday for Sam aside from the fact it would be her last. Laughing on the way home from the party that night, speakers pumping, hearts beating, and cars swerving, Sam and her friends drove home. Suddenly a bright light hit Sam’s eyes and something that sounded like the word sit or sight came ringing into her ear. Ring! Ring! Her alarm clock bursted through her ear. She glanced at her alarm clock to realize it was 6:45, February 12th. Sam’s first retake of the 12th of February started off a little like this. Sam had realized something was up but went to school as like it was yesterday, which in fact it was. Same boring classes, same text messages, and same conversations.
When lunchtime rolled around was the first time the book introduced Juliet Skyes, or as Lindsay calls her, “Physco”.
Lindsay was the leader of their friend group, she drove the car, she picked out the lunch table, and she picked the friends and the fakes. At lunch, Juliet walked past Sam’s table and Lindsay made fun of her in a loud tone so everyone, even Juliet, could hear. She made fun of how ugly and weird she was. Lindsay’s small yet crucial actions sets off a chain of events leading into how they affect Sam’s death. Later that night at the party Juliet shows up looking like a completely different person, her hair was down, she was wearing gorgeous clothing, and she looked amazing. She went up to all four of the girls in Sam’s group and told them off about how mean they had
been to her in the past. When the girls drive home from the party yet again a flash of light comes. This was the moment Sam had been dreading all day. Lindsay screamed something that sounded like sit, or sight and then dark. The second day started out just as the first except Sam tried to avoid the whole party scene all together. Instead of the party they had a sleepover at Ally’s house and Sam was thrilled. She fell asleep and everything was perfect until she heard the, Ring! Ring! But instead of what Sam thought was the alarm was actually a phone ringing. Ally’s mom came rushing down the stairs to give the bad news, Juliet Skyes was found dead in her room. She had committed suicide that night. Sam not being at the party had affected Juliet in the sense that she had crumbled like a skyscraper. Sam started to see then that there was a relation between her and Juliette. The third, fourth, and fifth days were days of trial for Sam. She stayed home sick and did whatever she wanted and Juliet still ended up dying. Everytime Sam would try to do something different Juliet’s life would end each day. Juliet’s small actions affect Sam’s life in ways which in return end up really hurting Sam.
The connection between Sam and Juliet was undeniable, in some way they each affect each others chance of living. On the sixth day Sam tries so hard to save both of their lives. She was nice to Juliet all day and at the party, she chase her through the woods only to see Lindsay’s car driving down the street. Juliet yelled out, “We were not meant to be friends!” as she jumped in front of the street right in to the lane where Lindsay’s car plowed straight into her. Lindsay had yelled Skyes right before she ran into Juliet and it all made sense to Sam. Not sit, not sight, but Skyes. In this moment Sam accepted her death and realized in order to save Juliet she must die instead of her. On the very last day Sam realized the connection between the two would only end if Sam died in place of Juliet or in place of them both. She said goodbye to all of her family and friends and had come to peace with the decision. By Sam dieing it had given her a chance to discover who she really is as a person. Even if it took seven tries of the same day she came full circle and realized what really mattered in life.
For every action there is a reaction, and one may never find that person who affects them so much as Juliet found with Sam. But for some of people that person is a best friend, mother, or even the girl who has been bullied or is the bully. Everything one does or says has a possibility to affect not only the people they live and associate with but also people they have just met. As happy as someone may seem on the outside they may be dieing on the inside and one look, one smile, one hello may affect someone’s life. One will never truly know who’s life they are affecting whether big or small, but that is the beauty of life. You will never know what will happen.