Skip to main content

What are the most important themes in How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff? What does the narrator want to tell us?

How I Live Now deals with the themes of war, struggle, survival, and love. The protagonist, a fifteen-year-old girl who goes by the name of Daisy, is sent from New York to the countryside in England because of the developing war. The world is dealing with the outbreak of the new world war, but no one knows who the enemy really is.


The theme of war is very important because we see how war changes...

How I Live Now deals with the themes of war, struggle, survival, and love. The protagonist, a fifteen-year-old girl who goes by the name of Daisy, is sent from New York to the countryside in England because of the developing war. The world is dealing with the outbreak of the new world war, but no one knows who the enemy really is.


The theme of war is very important because we see how war changes the innocent lives of the children Daisy spends time with, such as Edmond and Piper. At first, when they hear about the war, Daisy and the rest are nonchalant; however, when the army arrives at their doorstep, they are separated, with Daisy and Piper taken in one direction, and Edmond taken in the other direction. The have to go through the agony of war, learning to deal with separation, loss and survival. When the war ends, we see that it leaves lasting effects on the characters, such as Edmond. The scars on his arm remind us that he has dealt with the harshness of the war.


The theme of love is also relevant. Daisy decides to return to England, and she notices that the people she knows have changed. Daisy's role when she goes back to England is to rehabilitate Edmond and reignite love in his heart. Although he refuses to see her at first, he soon accepts her, and Daisy begins to heal him. Love, as it turns out, has the power to heal and erase the pain left by the war.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...