Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Does Oskar actually want to solve his father's last mystery?
Aside from the recorded messages and his own memories, Oskar has little to connect him with his father. The search for the correct lock to accompany his found key is the final gift that his father left him; when he finishes the adventure, he will be done with his father. Will this be accompanied by a sense of closure? After all, Oskar seems to believe that his father left the key to start something similar to his "Renaissance Expeditions": "I was looking for clues that might lead me in a direction" (p 41). Then again, he also unconsciously avoids the possibility of finding the lock by using convoluted logic to ensure the increase in the creation of locks would outpace his systematic attempts at opening them. Oskar is fighting a strong curiosity with emotional attachment. Would you want to finish the adventure? Or would you rather leave it open, still living, a constant reminder of your father?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
That's a really good question. Honestly, I believe that if left unsolved, it would be like a tribute or remembrance of his father. However, solving it could also be interpreted as honoring his father's image. It would kind of be like granting his dying wish.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is a really good point. I feel if it were left unsolved, however, you'd spend so much time still thinking about it and what the key could have belonged to. Whether Oskar does or does not continue searching for the meaning behind his father's key, I believe there will be so much of a mystery behind it that he can't help but wonder.
ReplyDelete