Grief In 'Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close'

Though the book, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, primarily examines how grief affects various characters, the theme of love is explored as a double-edged sword in which it can either heal or cause pain to an individual. Ultimately, it is worth taking risks when it comes to love, as it is a humanizing experience and an opportunity to learn, though moving on is often difficult due to the grief one may experience from the pain it can cause. With this in mind, the story explores how love can be corruptive, yet healing. Love is shown to be corruptive through Oskar’s grandpa, who abandons Oskar’s grandma and unborn son out of fear. “I’m so afraid of losing something I love that I refuse to love anything” (Foer 216). Traumatized from war, and …show more content…
After contemplating for many years, he returns on the day his child, Oskar’s father, dies, determined to risk himself again and reunites with the wife he abandoned long ago. In the end, he comes to terms with his grief by burying his letters and develops a relationship with his wife and his grandson. He overcomes the pain of losing what he loved most and forms a different kind of love with his wife. Through the example of grandpa, it is clear that love can cause pain but it can also help in gaining closure, through his supportive relationship with Oskar, he faces the past and learns to accepts it. As Oskar tells his mother at the end, “It’s OK if you fall in love again” (Foer 324). His grandpa ends up taking the opportunity and lives with his wife from then on, taking another chance at love and living. With support, grandpa, Oskar, and all other characters in this book are able to gain closure from lost love, dreams, or marriage, demonstrating that support is a type of love that heals. Love can be painful when it is gone or ends tragically, as shown through grandpa and many others, but it is the memories, the experience, and the feeling that are most cherished and what remain from