Kiara Merritt
Mrs. Beaven
Hnrs English 10 Period 5
14 December 2014
Ignorance is Bliss
In the eighth grade Mrs. Jenna, my instructor, asked my fellow classmates and I to create a picture representing the physical characteristics of a typical murderer. I began to scribble and dabble the pencil drawings of a man of tall height, a beard, squinted eyes, and a troubled smirk. The man I had drawn had an evil stature and the shape of a monster. He wore dark clothing, pointed shoes, and a hat. This man I had portrayed was placed in the unpleasant surroundings of an abandoned house in the foreground in what I had known to be as “living in the middle of nowhere.” Many of my classmates each had a different idea of what this typical murderer were to appear…show more content… Harvey, Susie Salmon’s murderer, to say the least is a rapist, a predator, and a serial killer. One would describe him as the average Joe. One to be of male embodiment. One who acts of normality and perspective? He is a man. He is a 36-year-old typical friendly neighbor creating an extremely fake exterior that both the neighborhood and parents are tricked into believing. He who rapes and murders Susie, within minutes of being in the safety of her own home. Although indispensable in this novel, his story is remains inferior to the stories and lives of Susie and her loved ones creating a powerful use of dramatic irony. Throughout the novel I’ve felt as if I was Susie's alter ego, aware of the many thoughts and mysteries she wishes were not so secret, but instead expressed to the people she loves. I have been following along with her in the uncertainty for Harvey's guilt to be exposed to the community. I found that Susie's continuous use of the title "Mr.Harvey" to refer to her rapist is upsetting, but this gave vivid insight to Susie’s respect and wisdom, as she understands him to still be an authority figure, one to be trustworthy, and if not trusting,…show more content… Does one not loose respect when hurt by man? Many find it hard to look past the evil in their lives. I respect, however, Suzie’s decision in the story to stay near to her manners and provide her murder with esteem. I shared an understanding with her want to live in “comfort” (as said by her grandfather), but one could find confusion in the portrayal of a “happy heaven”, within the novel. The idea that one could live in such ignorant bliss in the face of a man who has destroyed every aspect of love and life, within you. Nonetheless, Suzie began to experience a moment in heaven to be of grief, rage, blame and a muddle feelings. I enjoyed this part of the book for it took a turn away from being that typical novel of death and eternal life forever filled of happiness. I like that she is dead, but that she is dedicated her own personal heaven. She still remains with all of her human emotions and can retain to her memories while still being able to grieve as much as her family grieves for her.
I especially enjoyed that Alice Sebold, the author of this book, describes heaven as far from being perfect...No particular deeds are good, nor are they bad. Showing that Suzie is given an opinion and best of all an option. She can let go…or she can hold on. She herself can be happy, while also creating a source of happiness for her family allowing her to embrace her new reality in her very own heaven. One could not expect such a turn out. “Sometimes the dreams