Entry #6

Rhetorical Questions- "What would you do? Would you jump? Would you feel pity for yourself? Would you think about your family and your childhood and your dreams and all you're leaving behind? Would it hurt? Would it feel like dying? Would you cry, as I did?" (page 54)

Okay so that's a lot of rhetorical questions. O'Brien was given the chance to run away. He had the opportunity to make the decision for himself instead of letting his government and the draft make it for him. He could have started over and lived his life how HE wanted to, but he was choked with all of these feelings and this huge decision.

I think he asks these questions so that the reader can better understand all of the decisions that were facing him. It makes the reader put themselves in his position and think about all of the feelings and emotions he was facing. He knew that if he chose to leave, he would be letting down everyone. On page 55 and 56, he begins looking back on his past and names off a list of people who he "sees" on the other shore. Ironically, these are all of the people he will also be fighting for or letting down if he does not fight. He feels the pressure and weight on his shoulders, making his decision even harder. Could you imagine a weight that strong? That is what he is asking the reader.

I believe that if faced with the same decision, I would choke just as he did. I would be too afraid to run away.I would worry about what others would think and yes, I would most definitely cry.