Heavy boots. This is a term that we often seen used by Oskar, but what does is really mean in the story? Why does Oskar have heavy boots, and why does he always seem to be wearing them? The terms "heavy boots" signifies Oskar's emotional baggage and emotional state of mind throughout his journey to find the "Black" connection to his father. Whenever he is sad, worried, distressed, scared, etc...it seems that his heavy boots are put on. Now, we can think of heavy boots in the literal sense. When you wear them, your stride, and your ability to move forward is hindered. This is what exactly happens to Oskar in his journey. All of these questions, concerns, and fears are weighing him down, but because of his unique personality, he is often able to help himself propel forward and seek the answers to the questions that he has been looking for. By his use of the term, "heavy boots", we as readers can remember the fragile young age that Oskar is actually at, and it helps us to identify more with him. For myself personally, every time I saw Oskar talk about his heavy boots, it made me feel as if I was there with him, as if I was a part of his pain, and that I was traveling his journey with him. With this term being so abstract, and rarely used, it would make one think that it would have no effect on others, but in hindsight, it actually does. It simplifies something that we often make too complicated. We use words to portray ideas and feelings, and sometimes, our true thoughts and feelings are lost in translation because we try too hard to express them. With heavy boots, there is no interpretation to be done, it is the truth: plain and simple. Now it might seem as if I am contradicting myself: but heavy boots is abstract, and simplified at the same time. It is language rarely used, but it is forever telling.The effect that heavy boots has on the reader is something that should be appreciated. I believe that it makes Oskar and the reader, together as one. One may read "heavy boots" and think, "Hey, I have felt that way before, but I never thought of those words to express it". The reader can now realize that others may be going through similar things as them, and it gives them a sense of equality with the world around them. When Oskar wears his heavy boots, it seems that you are wearing a pair too. Despite the hindrance of heavy boots, Oskar is strong enough to continue forward, and seek to "avenge" the death of his father.
"THE FACT IS, THAT TO DO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD WORTH DOING, WE MUST NOT STAND BACK SHIVERING AND THINKING OF THE COLD AND DANGER, BUT JUMP IN AND SCRAMBLE THROUGH AS WELL AS WE CAN"----Robert Cushing
Oskar knows not to be afraid of the world around him, but to utilize it, appreciate it, and show others some things that they might have never seen before. Despite heavy boots, Oskar has the ability to befriend, and express affection for, perfect strangers.
7 comments:
I enjoyed reading everyone'sinterpretations about heavy boots! I like how you expressed both the physical and the emotional affects of wearing heavy boots!Nice Job!
I like the post. Although I took a much less forgiving stance on the boots (I equated them with self-imposed possessiveness), you make a very good case for your point of view. What I like best though is how you analyzed how the reader is impacted by the phrase, which I must say wasn’t much different from my own initial response. One question that I have about your post: what’s this business of vengeance you mention? Perhaps I’m just ignorant (or forgetful), but I don’t recall any overtly vengeful feelings on the part of Oskar. To what are you referring to? Can you elaborate on this?
To "The Monk" --So what I was alluding to when I was talking about "avenge" it that Oskar's mission is to avenge his father's death by finding more out about what the key meant. In other words, I feel that he is trying to put purpose or meaning to his father's death. I was using our discussion about Hamlet in class to help me with this idea. When we were talking about similarites, Hamlet was trying to avenge his father's death, as is Oskar. His father's death is mostly what he has ill feelings about. Who knows, I might me wrong, but this is how I feel. Hopefully this clears up your discrepancies. :)
excellent post. The way you described the use of the term 'heavy boots' was very good. I don't know about you, but sometimes when I get upset I've started using the phrase as well. It really does seem to capture the emotion perfectly.
Hey Lil Ray of Sunshine! Thanks for the compliment! :) My thoughts exactly. The term "Heavy Boots" is such an unconventional phrase, but it seems perfect to be used in everyday language.
I liked the way you wrote your post: it was very easy to connect to. One line that exemplified this was: "It simplifies something that we often make too complicated. We use words to portray ideas and feelings, and sometimes, our true thoughts and feelings are lost in translation because we try too hard to express them,". Everyone gets caught up in life; whether it be their own, others, or the particulars of it. This line described this (almost flaw or) dilemma perfectly.
I think the reason why he can have heavy boots yet become very close to others with losses is because he wants their knowledge of experience. He needs this growing process and the support necessary to move on and cope along the way. However, do these people deal with their various losses better than Oskar? Some of the people he meets, in my opinion, are even more cemented in their own greviances and Oskar helps get them out (as opposed to them getting Oskar completely out).
I was also thinking this whilst reading your post: His Father would eventually die, but Oskar is so concentrated on getting him back that he does not even comprehend that fact. This is sort of like him wearing the boots: If he trudges around meeting people, he thinks he is getting the answers he needs to get his boots off (the final answer about the key)- but really he can, like Anonymous (Yes, Me) said, take them off already. At any time, even. Oskar's definition of safe is familiar, not necessarily secure. This seems to tie into the fact that he is always seeming to overlooking the obvious, simple, and most logical.
Hey "Juno"! Thank you for your thoughts. When you tell me that my post was very easy to connect to, that was exactly the point I was going for; because when Oskar wears his heavy boots I feel that there is a connected-ness[sic] between Oskar and the reader. For myself personally, I felt almost as if I could feel what he was feeling. To answer your posed question about loss: Oskar does not deal with things better than others, because all people deal with different things in different ways, therefore, I feel that there is really no way to determine if one person's way of dealing with loss is better than the next. I totally agree with you when you say that Oskar tends to overlook the logical. But this is what makes Oskar such a great person. He has the ability to see the world in such a different light, that is seperates him from others and in a sense makes him "special".
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