Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close: Blog 1

My perspective of Oskar has had a definite change from the beginning of the book to "Heavier Boots." At the beginning of the book Oskar had inappropriate thoughts, but knew what was deemed inappropriate to say out loud. As the book continued Oskar's filter became smaller and smaller until he was unable to determine what was acceptable and unacceptable to say outloud. Oskar asked if he could kiss Abby, "'I dont think that a good idea'... I asked why not. She said, 'Because I'm forty-eight and you're twelve.' 'So?'" (99). This was a mojor indicater that Oskar was beginning to lose sight of what was acceptable. I believe that at the beginning of the book before Oskar started his search for the missing lock, he would have been able to identify that his question to Abby was unacceptable. At the end of "heavier Boots" it was really clear that that filter Oskar once had, was gone. Oskar argues with his mom, "If i could have chosen, I would have chosen you" (171). Oskar angrily told his mom that if he could have chosen which of his parents died in the 9/11 tragedy he would have picked his mother. This really jumped out at me because that is probably the worst thing Oskar could have said to his mother. Oskar has gradually been losing his way as the book went on and i think the end of "Heavier Boots" was his breaking point.