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The Lovely Bones Research Paper

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Among the several fiction books written by Alice Sebold, the American Booksellers Association Book of the Year for Adult Fiction Award winning book The Lovely Bones is known as one of her all-time best books of her entire writing career. The protagonist of The Lovely Bones is a young teenage girl, approximately 15 years old, who goes by the name of Susie Salmon and she lives with her younger brother, Bob Salmon; her younger sister, Lindsey Salmon; her mother, Susie so much; and her father call me, Jack Salmon. Susie was brutally raped and murdered by her neighbor Mr. Harvey. Mr. Harvey is a 36-year-old rapist as well as serial killer who primarily targets young teenage girls as his victims and has been on the move after he realizes that he …show more content…

Harvey’s death, an icicle, should remain the same in the film adaptation because it plays an essential role in depicting “the influence of karma” as the story develops. In the text, Sebold declares, “It was then that I noticed them, hanging above their heads in a long and plentiful row. Icicles… A moment later, the icicle fell. The heavy coldness of it threw him off balance just enough for him to stumble and pitch forward” (154). Now one might see this moment of Mr. Harvey’s death scene as frivolous because death caused by an icicle is quite out of the ordinary; however, backtracking into the story Susie writes that, “ ‘How to Commit the Perfect Murder’ was an old game in heaven. [Susie] always chose the icicle: the weapon melts away” (58). This, in context with the previous quote, illustrates how the weapon that Susie chose-an icicle-now is the reason for Mr. Harvey’s death and a physical representation of both Susie’s revenge as well as karma since Mr. Harvey killed Susie using his own choice of weapon and Mr. Harvey died by an icicle, Susie’s choice of weapon. If the film adaptation was to change the initial cause of Mr. Harvey’s death, they would leave a vital moment that illustrates karma throughout the story. Therefore, the primary cause of Mr. Harvey’s death must be demonstrated through an icicle and no other weapon of any …show more content…

Harvey’s death being caused by an icicle or taking place in almost the middle of nowhere might seem insignificant towards the story. However, by carefully breaking down this book into separate pieces and comprehending each one alone, as well as in context with the others, will allow the reader to easily see how karma plays its role as the story develops. Understanding how karma comes into effect throughout the story allows for the reader to view the story in another perspective that Sebold most likely viewed the story as she was writing it; hence, also making the book as well as the film appealing to a larger audience. Overall, several decades ago when this story took place, women were not compelled to learn how to defend them which allowed for majority of them to be sexually assaulted but now and hopefully in the future women will not only learn how to defend themselves but also teach others similar to how the younger generations learn from the older generations and continue to teach

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