Is Death Really the End?
People tend think of death as a sad unpredictable concept but it is a harsh reality, which is beyond their control. If we take a step back then we will realize that death is much more. Death is extraordinary, something that people experience frequently with someone close or distant especially the protagonist in the novel. In Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon the main character Cory, who is 11 years old, is unsure of how to handle situations that he never encountered in his life before. Throughout the book he learns how to deal with bad situations that come his way. Death is one of those concepts that lead him to understand the true purpose of life. . As Cory slowly lets go of the two deaths closet to his heart such as …show more content…
One of the events that shapes Cory’s maturity is when he has to make the tough decision of euthanizing, as Rebel is slowly dying Cory talks about how, “He’s my dog. He can get better. Even as I said that, I knew all the imagination in the world could not make it so” (348 McCammon). Cory is not ready to let go of his Rebel since he is very attached to him and has had him for a long time. Cory tries praying death away from him, and hoping that Rebel will somehow come alive. Cory thinks back to the night when he woke up in the middle of the night with a nightmare of the Ghost of Carl and says “I had rejected my dog pure and simple. I had prayed death away from him and my selfishness had rejected him to exist in this state of betwixt and between. I had rejected him” (359 McCammon). After Cory realizes that Rebel is truly gone, he starts to remember all the good times he had as well as cannot help but notice how small his pen becomes since Rebel is not in there. Even though he knows putting down Rebel was the right thing to do his selflessness from time to time had gotten the better of …show more content…
It takes time to think of what to do when you’re stuck in this uncomfortable situation. No one is ever ready to say their last words. When “Cory’s father [Tom}: says to Cory that Davy Ray wants to see you, I was afraid” (449 McCammon). In Cory’s mind he did not have the guts to go see Davy Ray. His heart didn’t feel as if it was right. Even though in his mind he knows it will be the last time he sees Davy Ray, he just wants to hold onto the hope that he had for Rebel. He didn’t want to believe that this was the last time he would see him. Eventually he builds up the courage and goes in to talk to Davy Ray. “I stood up Davy Ray’s cold hand clung to mine for a few more seconds and then it fell away.” “I’ll see you” I said through his oxygen tank “Okay?” “Good- I stopped myself. “I’ll see you” A sob welled up in my throat before I walked out but I clenched it down as I found the true meaning of closure¨. (452 McCammon) This really shows how it was time for Cory to accept the truth and let all of the grief he was holding onto as he knew that just like Rebel his best companion was gone to a better, safer
People tend think of death as a sad unpredictable concept but it is a harsh reality, which is beyond their control. If we take a step back then we will realize that death is much more. Death is extraordinary, something that people experience frequently with someone close or distant especially the protagonist in the novel. In Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon the main character Cory, who is 11 years old, is unsure of how to handle situations that he never encountered in his life before. Throughout the book he learns how to deal with bad situations that come his way. Death is one of those concepts that lead him to understand the true purpose of life. . As Cory slowly lets go of the two deaths closet to his heart such as …show more content…
One of the events that shapes Cory’s maturity is when he has to make the tough decision of euthanizing, as Rebel is slowly dying Cory talks about how, “He’s my dog. He can get better. Even as I said that, I knew all the imagination in the world could not make it so” (348 McCammon). Cory is not ready to let go of his Rebel since he is very attached to him and has had him for a long time. Cory tries praying death away from him, and hoping that Rebel will somehow come alive. Cory thinks back to the night when he woke up in the middle of the night with a nightmare of the Ghost of Carl and says “I had rejected my dog pure and simple. I had prayed death away from him and my selfishness had rejected him to exist in this state of betwixt and between. I had rejected him” (359 McCammon). After Cory realizes that Rebel is truly gone, he starts to remember all the good times he had as well as cannot help but notice how small his pen becomes since Rebel is not in there. Even though he knows putting down Rebel was the right thing to do his selflessness from time to time had gotten the better of …show more content…
It takes time to think of what to do when you’re stuck in this uncomfortable situation. No one is ever ready to say their last words. When “Cory’s father [Tom}: says to Cory that Davy Ray wants to see you, I was afraid” (449 McCammon). In Cory’s mind he did not have the guts to go see Davy Ray. His heart didn’t feel as if it was right. Even though in his mind he knows it will be the last time he sees Davy Ray, he just wants to hold onto the hope that he had for Rebel. He didn’t want to believe that this was the last time he would see him. Eventually he builds up the courage and goes in to talk to Davy Ray. “I stood up Davy Ray’s cold hand clung to mine for a few more seconds and then it fell away.” “I’ll see you” I said through his oxygen tank “Okay?” “Good- I stopped myself. “I’ll see you” A sob welled up in my throat before I walked out but I clenched it down as I found the true meaning of closure¨. (452 McCammon) This really shows how it was time for Cory to accept the truth and let all of the grief he was holding onto as he knew that just like Rebel his best companion was gone to a better, safer