The tragedy of the 9/11 attack had a lasting impact on the dynamic of families and individuals across the nation. As the unbelievable occurred, people struggled to find ways to overcome the situations they had been faced with. In his novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer emphasizes this through elements in his writing such as characterization, graphic images, a detailed setting, and the use of multiple narrative strands. These effectively create the story of nine year old Oskar and his journey to healing after the loss of his father in the 9/11 attack. Foer’s strategic use of these devices gives this story depth and shows how the tragedy and loss caused by 9/11 can be complicated by guilt, anger, fear, and resentment,
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Due to the fact that prior to 9/11 Oskar and his father would play the scavenger hunt-type game, when Oskar find the key amongst his father’s belongings he takes it as a final message from his father. He sees this key as a way to avenge his father’s death and free himself from the guilt weighing him down from this tragic day. As Matthew Mullins elaborates on Oskar’s dedication to finding this missing lock he says, “Oskar repeatedly complicates an "us versus them" conception of identity in the wake of trauma. When Oskar finds the envelope with the name "Black" written on it in his father's belongings, he systematically begins to call on every person in New York with the name Black.” (Boroughs and Neighbors). Initially, Oskar was lost in his battle against his anger and fear in facing his father’s death. However, when he discovers this key, he sees it as an opportunity to start anew and finally heal from this loss. Therefore, he becomes completely encompassed in this journey to self healing and closure in the loss of his father. The novel’s setting of New York allows Foer to center his novel in this painful loss of Oskar’s father. However, as Oskar searches for the matching lock, he is simultaneously providing himself healing and a way to free himself of the weight of his guilt and
Due to the fact that prior to 9/11 Oskar and his father would play the scavenger hunt-type game, when Oskar find the key amongst his father’s belongings he takes it as a final message from his father. He sees this key as a way to avenge his father’s death and free himself from the guilt weighing him down from this tragic day. As Matthew Mullins elaborates on Oskar’s dedication to finding this missing lock he says, “Oskar repeatedly complicates an "us versus them" conception of identity in the wake of trauma. When Oskar finds the envelope with the name "Black" written on it in his father's belongings, he systematically begins to call on every person in New York with the name Black.” (Boroughs and Neighbors). Initially, Oskar was lost in his battle against his anger and fear in facing his father’s death. However, when he discovers this key, he sees it as an opportunity to start anew and finally heal from this loss. Therefore, he becomes completely encompassed in this journey to self healing and closure in the loss of his father. The novel’s setting of New York allows Foer to center his novel in this painful loss of Oskar’s father. However, as Oskar searches for the matching lock, he is simultaneously providing himself healing and a way to free himself of the weight of his guilt and