Last but not Least discussion
Flashbacks Thread #3
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Allison
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Apr 08, 2016 04:25PM
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I think that the flashbacks are set up the way that they are to show the reader the importance of each one of the events on "Eddie's Birthday." For example, there is a section that explains how Eddie felt when he went to the funeral for the then unknown man. The reader is able to easily make the connection of events which helps the development of the theme that each and every action has a consequence and is related to another one.
Maria, I like that you said the flashbacks allow the reader to make sense of events that happened during Eddie's childhood. When Eddie meets the blue man in heaven he is told why he is there: The Blue Man says, "This is the greatest gift God can give you: to understand what happened in your life. To have it explained. It is the peace you have been searching for" (35).
To me, this quote explains the importance of the flashbacks and brings the reader into the story by showing that Eddie will learn the significance of these events, and the reader will learn their meaning along with him.
I feel that showing how important things happened on his birthday teaches the reader the importance of life. Since birthdays signify life having, pivotal moments happen on his birthday, for example meeting marguerite, going to a funeral, and his wife's accident, are all important experiences that happen on his birthday showing that although it's short life has many lessons and importance.
I agree with Maria about how his flashbacks show how every action has a consequence. His flashbacks from his birthdays and the people he meets in heaven are all about how they shaped his life in some way. Another example is when Eddie's childhood is described as a glass and how his dad left fingerprints of neglect, violence and silence on Eddie's glass. The actions done by Eddie's father helped shape Eddie and become the man he before he died because despite what Eddie's dad did, Eddie always sought for his approval whether it was from doing good in baseball games or working at the pier like him. If his dad didn't act like this, Eddie might not have fought so hard for his father's attention and approval.
I like Michaela said I think those section help the book come full circle in a way. They all lead to the point that he died on his 83rd birthday, stressing that the most influential moments of his life happened on his birthday. It provides the connection of eddie's death to the beginning of the book.
Although I somewhat agree with the posts above, specifically Michaela, I find it to be a bit cheesy that everything important in his life just happens to take place on his birthday... A 1/365 chance seems to be very common for Eddie. Maybe I'm missing a more rhetorical meaning?
I agree with syd, I don't understand this element of the authors writing
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I don't think that all things happen on his birthday but like Allison said the irony that he rarely had a "happy" birthday. He was introduced to death on an early birthday and eventually died on his birthday. I think there is a reason that the author feels the need to make important parts of Eddies life on his birthday. Because what are the chances that someone dies exactly on their birthday and has such important moments on his birthday? The author, in my opinion, is subtly explaining that birthdays are more important than adding a year onto your age.
