Right from the start, Celeste Ng is straightforward and tells us that Lydia is dead. As readers, we spend the whole novel knowing that Lydia was dead before her story began. Her family does not know this piece of information until her body is found. When the police inform her family that they found her body, her family is put into the same position as the reader, knowing Lydia was dead but not knowing how or why she died.
The end of chapter one brings us to the next step in understanding Lydia’s death. When a boat is found drifting on the lake, the police ask Lydia’s father, James, if she ever went out on the lake. “Lydia doesn't know how to swim,” (Ng 2014, 24). With these words, both Lydia's family and the readers know that Lydia is …show more content…
Lydia's brother, Nath, is realizing for the first time that everything revolves around Lydia. After sneaking out to the lake, Lydia following close behind, Nath pushes Lydia into the lake. As she is sinking into the water, Lydia feels relieved, for she, too, feels the weight of everything reviving around her. Nath has an epiphany, realizing that even without Lydia nothing would change. Nath rescues Lydia, and Lydia silently pleads to him “Don't let go,” (Ng 2014, 155). Nath keeps her hand in his. “All her life, Lydia would remember one thing. All his life, Nath would remember another,” (Ng 2014, …show more content…
Marilyn’s dream had been put on pause when she married James and started a family. Her mother’s death reignited her desire to not be like her mother and become a doctor. However, she was forced to put her dream on pause again when she found out she was pregnant with Hannah. When Marilyn returned home, Lydia willingly yielded to her mother’s desires in an attempt to make her stay, so Marilyn began to use Lydia as a substitute for herself. Her mother's gifts, too, reflect Marilyn’s desire for Lydia to become what Marilyn could have been. Marilyn would give books she though Lydia might be interested in, but in reality Lydia could not
The end of chapter one brings us to the next step in understanding Lydia’s death. When a boat is found drifting on the lake, the police ask Lydia’s father, James, if she ever went out on the lake. “Lydia doesn't know how to swim,” (Ng 2014, 24). With these words, both Lydia's family and the readers know that Lydia is …show more content…
Lydia's brother, Nath, is realizing for the first time that everything revolves around Lydia. After sneaking out to the lake, Lydia following close behind, Nath pushes Lydia into the lake. As she is sinking into the water, Lydia feels relieved, for she, too, feels the weight of everything reviving around her. Nath has an epiphany, realizing that even without Lydia nothing would change. Nath rescues Lydia, and Lydia silently pleads to him “Don't let go,” (Ng 2014, 155). Nath keeps her hand in his. “All her life, Lydia would remember one thing. All his life, Nath would remember another,” (Ng 2014, …show more content…
Marilyn’s dream had been put on pause when she married James and started a family. Her mother’s death reignited her desire to not be like her mother and become a doctor. However, she was forced to put her dream on pause again when she found out she was pregnant with Hannah. When Marilyn returned home, Lydia willingly yielded to her mother’s desires in an attempt to make her stay, so Marilyn began to use Lydia as a substitute for herself. Her mother's gifts, too, reflect Marilyn’s desire for Lydia to become what Marilyn could have been. Marilyn would give books she though Lydia might be interested in, but in reality Lydia could not