Finding the Lock of a Lost Key – Justice Search after 9/11
Imagine yourself in class on a regular day. Imagine being at school on a day that seems normal. They would all be thrilled, without knowing the reason. Oskar Schall has this experience. He returns early from school to learn that his dad was killed in 9/11. Oskar was thrown into turmoil on a seemingly perfect day: 70-degree weather, early school release and perfect weather. Oskar discovers an envelope in the closet of his deceased father, a year after the death. He is still dealing emotionally with his grief. The envelope was marked “black” and contained a mystery key. Oskar is driven by his curiosity and embarks on a journey through New York to try to understand the envelope. Oskar embarks on this journey as a response to his father’s death in the terrorist attack. Jonathan Safran Foer uses Oskar’s actions after the death of his father to show that dealing with grief can make you withdraw from people you love. But, eventually, this will lead to a stronger individual.
Oskars hyperactive character makes him wonder about everything. It works to his advantage when it comes to the key he discovered. Oskar starts to wonder what “Black” means on the envelope. Oskar thinks the key and envelope are for someone whose last names is Black. Oskar then begins to go around New York and meet as many Blacks he can. “I ran back home to do some research and I found a total of 472 New Yorkers named Black” (Foer51). Oskar is introduced to a number of characters in the story. Oskar also struggles with behavior issues after the death of his father, and feels uncomfortable in some places. Oskar’s discomfort in public transport impacts his travel, since he must walk to every destination. Oskar is able to keep his cool when he feels like he needs to start screaming at someone or attacking them. In response to his father’s death, he acts aggressively towards others. Oskar acted in a hostile manner throughout his search to discover the meaning of this key, which shows the injustices he has experienced.
Oskar realizes that there is no way to bring his dad back. Therefore, he accepts the fact that nothing that he does can change this. He understands that his father’s death was unjust, and he is a person who appreciates justice. He focuses less on 9/11 than he does the memories of his father. Oskar started his search due to his curiosity and the fact that he wanted closure. He was constantly inventing ideas and things in his head, even before the death of his father. He would always imagine how his father died or create things that reminded of him. “I can invent a coffee maker that speaks in Dad’s voice to help me fall asleep” (1). Oskar believed that finding the key could lead him to someone who knew more than his grandmother or mother about his father, and he would be able to learn more. “What’s the significance of this key? Is it related to my father?” “Your dad?” Oskar thought he needed to know all the information he could about his father, so a search was undertaken.
Oskar’s search ends with him feeling a bit disappointed. “I Found It and It Had Nothing To Do With My Dad?” I found it. Now I’ll be wearing heavy boots all my life. Oskar thought that the key was going to reveal a secret just as a real key does in a lock. Oskar’s success did not come until after he arrived home and had filled the coffin of his father. “I continued to cry.” I wanted her to know all the lies that i’d told. I then wanted her say that everything was fine” (324). Oskar was sorry for the first time about lying to his mother, as he realized he needed to take care of her too. Oskar, however is disappointed to see that the coffin of his dad was empty. Though he was aware that it would not be filled, his heart thought he would find his father. Oskar feels at peace with his father.
Oskar’s quest to find the key illustrates that facing death can make a person more detached from the people who love them, but it can also help them become stronger. Oskar acts rudely towards his mother and his therapist as well as to the other students in the story. “‘Do You Think Any Good Can Come From Your Father’s Death?’ I threw his paper across the floor and shouted, No!'” It’s obvious, you f ****** idiot! It is only at the end when he shows compassion for his mother that we can see how much stronger he’s become. Jonathan Foer used Oskar’s behavior following the death of his father to illustrate the theme in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
Oskar Schall in Extremely Loud is Incredibly Close experiences the grief of losing his father. He suffers from a wide range of emotions. He acts out of anger throughout the story and withdraws from people. Oskar is stronger as a person when he goes on a quest to seek justice. It’s a journey that teaches him more about his self and the rest of the world. Jonathan Safran Foer was trying to send a message. He succeeded in doing so by creating a story unique from the viewpoint of someone who lost their loved one during a terror attack.
