“And I have this stupid little thought that Aaron didn't survive the croc attack after all, that he died but he's so pissed off at me that dying didn't stop him from coming here to kill me anyway.”
In this quote from Patrick Ness's book, there is a sense of guilt and fear present. The speaker, possibly a character named Aaron, is haunted by the idea that Aaron may have died but is still seeking revenge. This creates a sense of tension and uncertainty, as the speaker grapples with the consequences of their actions and the potential consequences of their guilt. The quote speaks to the lingering effects of trauma and the power of guilt to shape perceptions and actions.
Patrick Ness's quote captures a common fear many people face - the idea that unresolved conflicts or tensions could continue to haunt us even after death. This feeling of unease highlights the importance of addressing and resolving issues in our relationships while we have the chance.
"And I have this stupid little thought that Aaron didn't survive the croc attack after all, that he died but he's so pissed off at me that dying didn't stop him from coming here to kill me anyway." - Patrick Ness
As we consider this thought from the character in Patrick Ness's writing, it prompts us to reflect on themes such as guilt, fear, and the power of unresolved emotions. Here are a few questions to contemplate:
“I rub the ears of my dog, my stupid goddam ruddy great dog that I never wanted but who hung around anyway and who followed me thru the swamp and who bit Aaron when he was trying to choke me and who found Viola when she was lost and who's licking my hand with his little pink tongue and whose eye is still mostly squinted shut from where Mr. Prentiss Jr. kicked him and whose tail is way way shorter from where Matthew Lyle cut it off when my dog - my dog - went after a man with a machete to save me and who's right there when I need pulling back from the darkness I fall into and who tells me who I am whenever I forget.”
“Who cares even if I didn't?!" Conor shouted back. "They're just stupid berries. Woo-hoo, so scary. Oh, please, please, save me from the berries!"The monster looked at him quizzically. How strange, it said. The words you say tell me you are scared of the berries, but your actions seems to suggest otherwise.”
“I look at the knife-Resting in a puddle of water-Near the ledge by the pulpit behind Aaron-Where I dropped it-And I hear it calling to me- Take me, it says- Take me and use me, it says-Aaron hold open his arms."Murder me," he says. "Become a man." Never let me go says the knife”
“His noise is getting quieter, but I can still see it there still-See how he feels the skin of my hand against his, see how he wants to take it and press it against his mouth, how he wants to breathe in the smell of me and how beautiful I look to him, how strong after all that illness, and how he wants to just lightly touch my neck, just there, and how he wants to take me in his arms and-"Oh, God," he says, looking away suddenly. "Viola, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"But I just put my hand to the back of his neck-And he says, "Viola-?"And I pull myself towards him-And I kiss him.And it feels like, finally.”
“Stories don't always have happy endings."This stopped him. Because they didn't, did they? That's one thing the monster had definitely taught him. Stories were wild, wild animals and went off in directions you couldn't expect.”
“But you can’t make war personal,” I say, “or you’ll never make the right decisions.”“And if you didn’t make personal decisions, you wouldn’t be a person. All war is personal somehow, isn’t it? For somebody? Except it’s usually hate.”“Lee—”“I’m just saying how lucky he is to have someone love him so much they’d take on the whole world.” His Noise is uncomfortable, wondering what I’m looking like, how I’m responding. “That’s all I’m saying.”“He’d do it for me,” I say quietly.I’d do it for you too, Lee’s Noise says.And I know he would.But those people who die because we do it, don’t they have people who’d kill for them?So who’s right?”