Pyro & the Phoenix
Andrew: Their walls have been breached by a group of men with
painted faces who are believed to be pyro addicts. They have set fire to the
neighborhood and are killing for personal pleasure. It is terrible to think
that these men represent small terrorist groups that really do exist…This group of face painted men burn down a
majority of the houses, kill anyone they feel like killing, and rape pretty
much any woman they come in contact with. Lauren believes that this was caused
by the drug pyro, which causing a high when dealing with fire… So just like that, Lauren now has no family
left. But, if you go back to the beginning of chapter 14, there is the phrase, ‘In
order to rise from its own ashes a phoenix first must burn.’ Butler might have
put this in the beginning of chapter 14 to literally foreshadow that Robledo
was going to burn, but she might have also meant that Lauren, now having lost
her home and her whole family, has burned and will now start to rise from her
ashes.
Nicole:
“She died for us” a scavenger had said to Lauren while she was looking at a
dead painted body. I think these painted people taking the so called fire drug
are killing the people that have it better off than the majority of street poor… It
surprised me that in such depressing times people could still discriminate
against race. The street poor were the street poor, no one had much more than
the other, why does it matter what they look like?
Alexandra:
Do the people addicted to pyro realize that it is wrong to burn down houses?
Butler makes the reader question whether or not they could have burned them
down so the street poor could take the community’s things. If so, is it right
to displace others just for the good of the poor? Which is the greater of the
two evils?
Community Is Hardest Loss
Kaitlyn: Lauren goes through many struggling times: her father
disappearing, losing her brothers and Cory, and having to leave her community. Leaving her community has proved to be the most
difficult….
Curtis
Gabriella:
Lauren
finally admits, out loud and to Curtis that she wants to marry him. This
is a revelation because for so long Lauren had considered herself to be on her
own, so that was how she planned to leave; alone. Yet, Curtis conveyed to
Lauren exactly what she herself had thought and been feeling. For the
first time, I think Lauren considered staying a little longer, and considered herself
as no longer lonesome. She agreed to him, to stay until her family was on
their feet, marry him and then leave with him. For the first time, I
believe she felt hope that she could not only survive outside the walls, but
really be happy with Curtis. Then disaster strikes…
Lingering What-if Thoughts
of Olivar
Rebecca:
After reading this section, my biggest question was did the Garfield's do the
right thing to go work at Olivar? It makes me think... what would have happened
to Lauren's family had they left as well? Would everyone still be alive? Would
the town be the was Lauren's father pictured it? Or would they actually have
been able to have gotten on their feet and start a better life? All of these
questions I wish I had answers to… Also,
I see Lauren as being very mature. When she was talking to Curtis about
marriage, she could not let herself say yes until she saw her family back on
her feet. To me, that is a very mature and respectful thing to do. Because even
though she does love Curtis and wants to make a better life with him, she needs
to do what’s right first.
Jenny
P: I wonder if the Garfield’s were smart for leaving Robledo and moving to
Olivar. They escaped the huge fire and murder by the thieves. Even though there
isn’t much money in Olivar, did the Garfields make the right decision? Was
there any way for the rest of the community to avoid the burning down of their
community? …I keep
wondering, is her family really dead? Was Zahra correct with what she saw? And
is Curtis dead?... I wouldn’t be able to survive without my family. They
are my world and if the tragedies that are occurring to Lauren occurred to me,
I would not be able to go on.
Safety on the Road
Kaitlyn:
The pack of three came up with a couple of ways to ensure their safety. One way is that they take turns during the night
to sit and watch for any potential danger. When I read that part I felt so stupid because I never
would’ve thought of something like that…
Kasey:
Lauren had said all along she would leave the community by herself and head
north so it surprised me that she pretty willingly allowed Harry and Zahra to
travel with her.
Laura: I think the dynamic of the trio Butler forced together
is brilliant. A boy too much like Lauren’s father tries to hold on to morals
that won’t match up with his present situation. A girl not much older who has
always been too old in the naïve eyes of the world. And Lauren who has always
tried to be prepared but is finding out that she is starting to fall
dangerously short.
Too Much Coupledom?
Dana:
I also believe she is starting to feel lonely because she is
traveling with couples.
Jenny:
My first worry is that Zahra will become pregnant because of her stupid actions
with Harry. Will it lead to a baby?
Identity Unveils Itself on
the Road
Jacob:
Zahra tells Marcus and Lauren about her growing up homeless and having to steal
to survive. Zahra’s street smarts prove useful as they start their journey
north. On their journey Marcus is shocked by Lauren’s behavior. He realizes she
is not the preacher’s daughter that most of the neighborhood thought she was.
Breaking the Silence about
Hyperempathy & Earthseed
Kaitlyn:
I respected Lauren for being able to tell them about her sharing because not
only will it help her to survive, but I’m sure that can’t be an easy thing to
tell people. Lauren also told Harry and Zahra about her
Earthseed book and of her poems…
Britt:
Not only is she well-prepared for the ahead difficulties bound to be faced, but
she realizes that the safest option is to stay together which are the same ideas
her father believed. Lauren understands the fact that she will have to
trust people and do things that she may not be comfortable with, hence her
confession regarding her hyperempathy and “Earthseed” writing. These two
things, most important and crucial to her life, are now out into the world, symbolizing
hope and trust in her new community of only three people….
Rebecca:
Another major part of this section was when Lauren starts to talk to Travis
about Earthseed. This is a huge deal because this is one of the first times
Lauren talks to someone else about her religious views and Travis actually
enjoys listening and learning. I think this is a huge deal because if they
continue to travel in this large group then get to a new place to live and
start their own community, they won't have a religion to follow. That is when I
think Earthseed is really going to play a huge roll and when people start to
follow her religion.
Nicole:
As people begin to join their group the knowledge of Earthseed starts to grow.
It is challenged and accepted by the group members, just like the start to any
faith. When the most recent addition is made to their group one of the girls ,
Jill asks “who are you guys, anyway?” Harry then quickly responds with “
Earthseed”.
Dana:
Her syndrome has caused her to put walls up when she is around others just like
the walls of her town are protecting the people from being hurt. It is interesting to me to see the irony of the
walls of her town coming down, and her own walls coming down to gain trust with
other people.
Ally Formation
Vs. Who Is Trustworthy?
Britt: I predict that Harry feels unsure and left out often,
and if anyone were to desert or betray the group it would be him.
Rebecca:
I was really surprised when Lauren actually approached the mixed family of
three and asked if they wanted to be allies. I believe allies with just the
family of three is a smart thing to do, but I do not think it was smart for
Lauren, Zahra and Harry to pick up Allie, Jill and Bankole because they are
going to attract more attention to their group. This already happened once when
the group of three attacked Lauren's group. Lauren and her group were very
lucky to be able to survive this attack, but if I was here I would abandon the
two extra girls that they helped. One of the main reasons I would not let them
travel with the group is because they were very rude to Lauren when she started
talking about Earthseed.
Moral Questions
Shelby: is killing another human being okay? Whether it's for
self defense or to put someone out of their inevitable death- is it morally
right?
Chad:
It occurred to me that perhaps because Lauren embraced the notion that change
is unavoidable she was able to persist despite the enormity of her ordeal. I
suppose that Lauren’s most cogent survival tactic is her knowledge that change
is inevitable, and that to brood over its implications for too long is
dangerous. This is even illustrated in her disagreement with Harry as well.
Due to the immense strain placed on the group it will quite interesting to note
who succumbs first to the ruthless atmosphere of “be or be killed”. Moreover in
such dire circumstances I question whether it is possible to maintain some
humanity despite ones inclination to abandon such emotions in survival
situations. I would like to believe that our altruistic tendencies are
invulnerable and that the desire to survive does not necessarily supersede
human compassion and empathy. However even Lauren, whose hyperempathy would
make this especially difficult, resorted to gruesome survival tactics and was
even able to kill a man.
Laura:
I understand killing in self-defense, I also understand stealing. But I’m
worried about them causing needless death and turmoil. I want them to survive,
but my own conscience comes into play while reading and I dread what they may
do.
Alexandra:
Merriam Webster defines morals as "of or relating to principles of right
and wrong behavior." But what is right and what is wrong in a society that
has been flipped upside down? In the book it seems that many things are the
same as in our society….when Lauren gets outside the walls she knows that
nothing is the same. People lie, steal and kill. It seems that as soon as there
are no longer rules or authorities who heavily enforce them people do whatever
they wish. This raises the age old question about human nature. When I was
reading this I couldn’t help comparing it to Lord of the Flies. When no one is around to enforce rules people go
crazy and do whatever they want. Do they realize that it isn’t right? Are we
born preprogrammed to know right from wrong or is it something we learn from
our parents. And if it is something we learn from our parents is something
still wrong if no one has told you it is?.... Butler also raises the question
whether or not it is ethically okay to kill someone who is endangering yourself
or others. Lauren understands that it is wrong to kill. However, she states
that she intends to stay alive even if that means killing others who would harm
herself or her friends from home. If it is right for her to kill people
endangering her, is it also right for her to kill a man to put him out of his
misery?
Religion/Lauren as Prophet
Gabriella: She never lets
herself doubt the fact that God is change, just like it says in her Earthseed
book. How she can keep moving, thinking rationally and doing what she
needs to, to survive, astonishes me more than anything in this novel.
This book is meant to inspire and let everyone know that no matter what
happens, no matter what you are told, God is change, and knowing that
everything is constantly changing, is hope.
John: We experience Lauren’s development into an almost
omnipotent leader. We also experience the benefits of Lauren’s tremendous
foresight come to life as her struggle to survive becomes instantaneously
greater.
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