(I chose the topic of "The Worst Day" because no one has chosen it, so I figured i will endeavor on uncovered territory...)
Oskar, the nine year old narrator suffering from the death of his father and dealing with a fragile mental state, refused to name September 11th by date; he simply referred to it as "the worst day". He makes no direct reference to 9/11 throughout the entire novel. There are several effects of the absence of such direct mention, demonstrating exactly how carefully Foer uses every single word.
The primary effect of Oskar’s manner of referencing 9/11 is that it presents the day from a definitive point of view. By calling it “the worst day”, Oskar is presenting his opinion as fact, defining it not as his worst day, but as the worst day. Such authoritative reference to 9/11 shows exactly how deeply Oskar was affected. Throughout the novel, Oskar consistently states facts, rarely espousing his opinions to others. He more frequently quoted data and statistics than he did opinions. In the instance of calling it “the worst day”, Oskar is stating his opinion as fact. Certainly not everyone in the world views September 11th as the worst day, but he feels so strongly that he presents it as such; he deviates from his usually objective nature, referencing the day solely with his conclusive belief.
Also, “worst” is a definitive word. Amongst his references to the Dresden bombings and the bombing of WWII Japan, the terroristic events of September 11th are mentioned. The bombing of Hiroshima resulted in over 140,000 deaths, the bombing of Dresden 40,000, and The World Trade Center 3,000. The personal impact of the loss of his father drove Oskar to categorize September 11th as “the worst day”, even though both Dresden and Hiroshima were significantly more catastrophic. The numbers of deaths did not matter as much to Oskar; the single death of his father is what drove him to such despair—understandably so. Foer wrote Oskar to speak with uncharacteristic definitiveness about this day as to further exemplify its personal effects.
Finally, the most obvious reason for saying “the worst day” was Oskar’s avoidance. Oskar was unable to call this date by name. Oskar’s indirect references to the day depict his overwhelming pain and intense inner struggle. Because of the loss of his father, it was too painful for him to say the date of his father’s death. It was as if he was attempting to forget the date, to push it out of his mind as to be able to think of his father as if he were still alive. By giving his father’s death a date, his father was gone forever, conclusively—that is the opposite of what Oskar wanted. Oskar’s inner struggle to accept his father’s death emblematized the inner struggle and pain that all of the families of victims faced, as well as the denial and confusion of a country wary of an impending plunge into economic despair and military turmoil.
5 comments:
I agree with what you wrote about how describing September 11 as "the worst day" was Oskar's attempt to avoid the subject. But I also think by naming 9/11 as "the worst day" Oskar is giving a definitive time and date to his father's death, somewhat of a conclusive piece to his puzzle.
By naming 9/11 as "the worst day" Oskar formally recognizes the event that happened. This is a change from how he reacts to the telephone messages that his father left. Instead of avoiding the subject, I think Oskar is coming to terms with it.
An endeavor on uncovered territory, eh? I doubt you're really that far out into the wilderness, but, as you wish...
I agree that giving his dad's death a definitive date would affix into his concrete factual world the fact that he is gone. However, I think that Oskar is troubled more by the fact that he did not answer his father's last phone call, which is affixed in concrete numbers at the end of chapter 1. He also references freely the fact that his father is dead to others. Thus, I think that by calling it "the worst day," it does not just become the day his father died, but also the day that he failed to tell his father "goodbye," allowing the day to be the worst for more than one reason.
Natalie Marie, I greatly appreciate your disagreeing with me! You know how much I thrive on such things...!!!
As for your comment (or argument, take your pick!), it is terminally flawed at best. Please allow me to quote the first and last lines of your comment, respectively: "I agree with what you wrote about how describing September 11 as "the worst day" was Oskar's attempt to avoid the subject." And "Instead of avoiding the subject, I think Oskar is coming to terms with it." Seemingly contradictory? In your opening sentence you state that Oskar was attempting to avoid the subject, whereas in your concluding sentence you assert that he aws not avoiding it, rather he was coming to terms with it...? I'm sorry, but I am confused. Perhaps i missed something somewhere in the course of your comment...?
ANYWAY, I will validate my assertions nonetheless. Oskar's indirect reference to 9/11 WAS avoidance. In your comment you said, "But I also think by naming 9/11 as "the worst day" Oskar is giving a definitive time and date to his father's death...". By referring to 9/11 as "the worst day", Oskar is doing the complete opposite of what you just described. If and only if he were to refer to the event as "9/11" or September 11, would he be giving it a definitive time and date. By any other such reference, he is AVOIDING such definition. "The worst day" is a more ambiguous term, devoid of any reasonable hint of a specific date and/or time.
Oskar refers to the events of 9/11 as "the worst day" sa a form of indirect reference. Inherent in such indirect reference is avoidance.
Anonymous(yes, me), that is excellent analysis. Thank you for contributing that bit; I think the intellectual level of this blog just jumped up a few rungs! Another point to further augment your statement is Oskar's mentioned desire to have ambulances flash "Goodbye, I love you" as they drive by. Clearly he regrets not saying goodbye to his father for one last time; this qualm is manifested in several different ways throughout the novel.
Diego, let me explain myself. Oskar's reference to "the worst day" was redeeming his father's death. Oskar did not reference his father's death as one of the many that died in a tragic part of history, but as "the worst day" in his life. He is not avoiding September 11, but the connotation and tragedy that accomponies it. Instead, he personalizes the tragedy because it was "the worst day" in his life, so much so that no one else could relate. Does that explain it a little better?
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