Tragedy In Foer's Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close

For some people, tragedy is what it takes to realize core values and grow. In Jonathan Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Oskar Schell is a gifted nine year old in search of a meaning for his life outside of his central tragedy--the passing of his father in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. More than anything, he cannot escape from his own mind and his obsession with his father: “It doesn't make me feel good when you say that something I do reminds you of Dad” (Foer). Despite his gloom, one day, he discovers a key in a vase in his father’s closet, spurring a search around the entire city of New York for answers of his father’s death: the key is enclosed in an envelope marked with the word “Black,” and so Oskar embarks on a journey to visit every single person whose last name is Black. While …show more content…
Milkman is born to Macon Dead, a wealthy black landlord who is both respected for his business but also frowned upon for his exuberance. Milkman grows up being spoiled by his mother and grows into his father’s business; yet, he has qualms about his identity: “Milkman tried to figure what was true and what part of what was true had anything to do with him” (Morrison). At his father’s urging, Milkman sets off on a journey to Danville, Pennsylvania, to find a lost bag of gold, although he truly only discovers himself in the process. While flying over and dress luxuriously, Milkman soon has to interact with an assortment of individuals, figure out his own path forward after obstacles, and learn to have an identity outside of his wealth. After ditching his automobile, ripping his clothes, and winding up in the middle of nowhere does Milkman realize his wealth has nothing to do with who he is as an individual: “He was only his breath, coming slower now, and his thoughts. The rest of him had disappeared” (Morrison). And with an acute understanding of his own identity through his trials, Milkman enlightens his family and forges a new life for