Home in The Dog Stars
Home is a major theme presented in The Dog Stars, with all the characters having different interpretations of home. From fishing to survival, each one of these characters have distinctive events in their lives that have shaped these ‘homes’.
The Dog Stars is set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been torn apart by a blood flu. The remaining survivors have raided the old world and descended into a chaotic, anarchy, every-man-for-himself world. The unlikely duo; Hig, the poet and pilot, and Bangley, the gun master and killing machine, have been surviving together for over nine years. Everyday, Hig flies his plane and secures the perimeter , while Bangley improves their weaponry. (744) In the third year of the outbreak, …show more content…
For Hig, before the flu, home meant Melissa. Being anywhere or doing anything with Melissa was home to him. He explains that Melissa made his heart ‘burst’ with love. (12) He also explains that killing her was the hardest thing he has ever done. (64,65) After Melissa dies, Hig’s definition of home changes. It becomes Jasper. Rather than doing everything with Melissa, he does everything with Jasper. Jasper is his copilot, he watchdog, his friend, his brother, and even his support. (108) When Jasper dies in his sleep while they are hunting, Hig loses this definition of home, Bangley calls it Hig’s ‘mid life crisis’ (144) After this loss, Hig really just wants love. He is willing to leave Erie and fly past his PONR to Grand Junction to find something, someone. As he flies and finds Pops and Cima, he feels a lot more complete and at home. When the trio arrives in Erie and sees the place in shambles, Hig realizes that he cared a lot more for Bangley than he thought, He felt as though he was returning to his mom after twenty two years. (300) After assuring Bangley’s health, Hig understands that home is having a family, whether they be blood related or not. Home is where you have people that care for you and you care for …show more content…
There is very little that is known about Bangley’s life before the flu struck. But Bangley’s definition of home after the flu, is being able to survive, and showing someone that he can. Hig compares Bnagley’s relationship with him to one of his favorite jokes. There is a this model named Trippa Sands, who is the definition of sexiness, who is on a vacation on a cruise. The ship sinks, and Trippa and this guy named Jed wash up on a deserted island. They instantly fall deeply in love and make love. They are on the island for about a week when Jed asks Trippa to wear his cowboy hat, draw and mustache, and let him call her Joe. After Trippa does this, Jed grabs her and yells “Joe! Joe! Joe! I’m fucking Trippa Sands!”. (71-73) Hig says that this is Bangley and him in a nutshell, Bangley keeps Hig around so he can show him how well he’s surviving. (73) This is his definition of home, being able to show that he can keep his cool during this chaos, that he can survive anything life throws at him. Slowly, Bangley realizes that Hig is a part of his home too, as he gives Hig the ‘eggs of death’ as he leaves for Grand Junction. (154) It’s almost like they are a married couple, and when Bangley is sending Hig off, not only is he wishing Hig safety, he is wishing himself saftey. This shows much Bangley really cares for Hig, and that he will miss him and understand the need for Hig and his
Home is a major theme presented in The Dog Stars, with all the characters having different interpretations of home. From fishing to survival, each one of these characters have distinctive events in their lives that have shaped these ‘homes’.
The Dog Stars is set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been torn apart by a blood flu. The remaining survivors have raided the old world and descended into a chaotic, anarchy, every-man-for-himself world. The unlikely duo; Hig, the poet and pilot, and Bangley, the gun master and killing machine, have been surviving together for over nine years. Everyday, Hig flies his plane and secures the perimeter , while Bangley improves their weaponry. (744) In the third year of the outbreak, …show more content…
For Hig, before the flu, home meant Melissa. Being anywhere or doing anything with Melissa was home to him. He explains that Melissa made his heart ‘burst’ with love. (12) He also explains that killing her was the hardest thing he has ever done. (64,65) After Melissa dies, Hig’s definition of home changes. It becomes Jasper. Rather than doing everything with Melissa, he does everything with Jasper. Jasper is his copilot, he watchdog, his friend, his brother, and even his support. (108) When Jasper dies in his sleep while they are hunting, Hig loses this definition of home, Bangley calls it Hig’s ‘mid life crisis’ (144) After this loss, Hig really just wants love. He is willing to leave Erie and fly past his PONR to Grand Junction to find something, someone. As he flies and finds Pops and Cima, he feels a lot more complete and at home. When the trio arrives in Erie and sees the place in shambles, Hig realizes that he cared a lot more for Bangley than he thought, He felt as though he was returning to his mom after twenty two years. (300) After assuring Bangley’s health, Hig understands that home is having a family, whether they be blood related or not. Home is where you have people that care for you and you care for …show more content…
There is very little that is known about Bangley’s life before the flu struck. But Bangley’s definition of home after the flu, is being able to survive, and showing someone that he can. Hig compares Bnagley’s relationship with him to one of his favorite jokes. There is a this model named Trippa Sands, who is the definition of sexiness, who is on a vacation on a cruise. The ship sinks, and Trippa and this guy named Jed wash up on a deserted island. They instantly fall deeply in love and make love. They are on the island for about a week when Jed asks Trippa to wear his cowboy hat, draw and mustache, and let him call her Joe. After Trippa does this, Jed grabs her and yells “Joe! Joe! Joe! I’m fucking Trippa Sands!”. (71-73) Hig says that this is Bangley and him in a nutshell, Bangley keeps Hig around so he can show him how well he’s surviving. (73) This is his definition of home, being able to show that he can keep his cool during this chaos, that he can survive anything life throws at him. Slowly, Bangley realizes that Hig is a part of his home too, as he gives Hig the ‘eggs of death’ as he leaves for Grand Junction. (154) It’s almost like they are a married couple, and when Bangley is sending Hig off, not only is he wishing Hig safety, he is wishing himself saftey. This shows much Bangley really cares for Hig, and that he will miss him and understand the need for Hig and his