Nicolas Cassman

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@aredenoebok06 So far the only one who hasn't surrendered to their fate is Nicholas and thats because we haven't seen him yet. #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@JennaThibodea16 The scene might be a little introspective, but I think it more ties into his lack of self, where he'll just leave everything behind even after such a horrible occurrence without taking anytime to mourn. #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

what is the author's purpose in creating this self flagellating veteran that is immune to most things?

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

it seems that all of my predictions were wrong. Heres to trying again. "he was the cause, and the symptom, and the disease; he was the dooming factor for everyone but himself" (307). he blames himself for everything, and has no compassion for himself...#smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"his destiny in this realm was to take the form of the most minor of tools..." (288). Even at his happiest Hector still sees himself as a tool or someone to be used. Hasn't he always been this person even when his father was alive? can he change?#smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"after leaving Korea he had isolated himself, like some toiling monk" (270). Seems that Hector escaped into his work when returning to America, is this another punishment or is it a way to deal with his past outside of vice? #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@sageleonardsmc it seems that a lot of Ames' passions and curiosities lie in exploring areas around the world with tensions and danger and this attraction probably led him to Sylvie. His desire to help those who are 'damaged' and his interest in her past were a plus 4 hm #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@poling_colin I think that although June gave everything she could to Nicholas, she still acknowledged that it wasn't enough, she probably had limits to how much compassion she had left to give and didn't put much fate in the power of love. #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"love, she had come to believe, had no such power" (254). How do the ideas of love and fate intertwine in this novel? I also find it interesting, June's acknowledgment that she truly gave all she could to Nicholas. the were her emotional limits. #smce118 #thesurrenedered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"this faint smudge of her blood" (247). obviously due to the horrors of this chapter, but the theme of blood comes up a lot here, through physical harm, emotional detachment, and in comfort with Sylvie wanting to hide into her parents and share blood #smce118 #thesurrenedered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"the first words she said to him were, I'm sorry" (246). In this quote, is June sorry about the past or about the future? Does she not believe she will be a good mother?#smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@AlkireIngrid this bothered me at first first, but then I thought about this whole novel has people in it who put themselves into danger in order to punish themselves. So maybe that's what Sylvie's parents are doing in some way. partly tryiung to help too. #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@AlkireIngrid We'll probably talk about it in class but I can't remember hands coming up. #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"oh, my love" (217). It seems that apart from Sylvie's father there has been no mercy given to anyone in this story. How does the idea of mercy play out in this novel and how is it related to surrendering? #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

This novel shifts from the perspective of June to Hector to Sylvie. How are these perspectives related? and how does this shift add to the meaning? #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"she did not wish to disappoint them" (194). Seems like a start to understanding Sylvie's emotional state and what led her to her coping mechanism in the future. She also went through her own battle. #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"...I forget what's happened all around us here" (149). what is the significance of the civilian disconnection of war, the romanticizing of it, and the need to live vicariously through the stories of the soldiers? #thesurrendered #smce118

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@ryanc_smc War is all about destruction and chaos, so I'm sure that Hector feels good about finally creating something that is his and that others will enjoy, giving him a sense of purpose. #thesurrendered #smce118

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

"...if not for the deepening curiosity about the book's owner... quietly fierce and persistent yet also cleary fragile" (147). So far Hector seems like some who has resigned to fate, but this scene shows that he is looking for something new a curious. #smce118 #thesurrendered

[Nicolas Cassman @NicolasCassman]

@QuetzalWoomy seeing as he was essentially his father's caretaker before, I believe that Hector has an inner subconscious need to be needed by others and feel like he has a purpose. #smce118 #thesurrendered