Elissa Dommel – Chapter 25-28
1. The fact that Mark contemplates suicide is justifiable, given his past, but suicide seems like an extreme thing for a child his age to consider. It’s hard to imagine life being so horrible that you want to end it at ten years old. But, Mark has been through many hard times. He has witnessed murder and prostitution, been abused constantly at school, and has had to live in poverty for his entire life. Even though both of Mark’s parents have jobs, he feels that there is no way out of his situation.
If Mark were older, his situation would be a bit more justifiable. But, since he is only ten years old and still has a lot of his life ahead of him, suicide shouldn’t be the answer to his problems. Since Mark is going to school and learning how to read and write, his future could be better than his current situation. Since he has an education, he will probably have a better adulthood than his parents do. Mark should have thought about his future before contemplating suicide.
2. Chapter 28, page 169 – ” “Will you miss me too, Mama?” I sobbed. She held me tighter and said: “I would miss you more than anyone else. I too would want to die if you were to die. You’re the only hope I have. I love you very much.” I continued weeping. The tears seemed to want to come out. I felt deeply ashamed and guilty of some unknown wrong. “Now give me that knife,” I heard my mother say. I couldn’t see her because my eyes were now swimming in tears. I extended my hand and opened my palm, and she took the knife.”
In my opinion, this passage is the most significant because what Mark’s mother says in this passage stops him from committing suicide. For the first time in the book, Mark’s mother tells him how much she loves him and how glad she is to have him. Mark then knows that he would be greatly missed if he died, and doesn’t commit suicide.
3. Why does Mark’s mother keep having children when she knows that there won’t be enough money and food to support such a large family?