For a kid, Oskar spends a lot of time thinking about the nature of existence and the meaning of life. Because his nonstop brain is always thinking, he's got way too much existential anxiety for someone his age. That just explodes even more when his father dies. In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, his questions take on a new urgency, and he's just lost the person who helps him work through those Big Questions. He can't get past the random and illogical ways the world seems to work.
Questions About Life, Consciousness, and Existence
- What views on life does Oskar simply mimic from his father? What theories does he get from his idol, Stephen Hawking? What ideas are his own?
- How does Oskar's life philosophy differ from his Mom's? What kind of conflict does this cause between the two of them?
- What does Grandpa mean when he says "I can't live, I've tried and I can't"? (6.1)