Outside Reading Post #7

In the beginning of the novel, Campbell’s occupation as a lawyer suggests that he may have a very strong and assertive personality. But as we continue reading, this is not what we discover. We learn that Campbell has epilepsy caused by a car accident when he was a young adult. But, he doesn’t tell anyone, not even his own family. We aren’t sure why, but the novel suggest two possible reasons. One reason may be that he cares more for others than he does for himself. For example, Campbell, as a teenager, is hesitant about having a real relationship with Julia because he doesn’t want her to feel responsible for his well being. When Julia finally learns about his disability Campbell states, “Thirty CT scans later, the doctors still couldn’t really tell me why, but they made it pretty clear I’d have to live with it forever. I take a deep breath. Which is what made me realize that no one else should have to” (384). This indicates Campbell didn’t reveal to Julia he had a disability simply because he didn’t a burden to her. Another possible explanation for Campbell’s secrecy about his disability may be that he was too insecure or self-conscious to share it with others. For instance, when questioned about using a service dog, he jokingly gives them an answer but never reveals the truth. During trial, a woman and her son ask him why he uses a service dog and he responds with a grin, “I’m a lawyer…He chases ambulances for me’” (408). This makes him seem embarrassed by his disability and is not comfortable discussing it with others.

The main conflict that occurs in this section of the book is the indecisiveness of those involved in the trial. At first, coming into the trial, people are either completely for or against Anna. But as the trial unfolds, people begin to question who they should support. This seems to occur when they begin to realize how difficult it would be to see Kate die and they question whether Anna truly understands the long-term affects the death may cause. They wonder if she’s mature enough to make her own decisions responsibly. As these ideas are speculated, people begin contradicting their initial beliefs.

My Sister’s Keeper is similar to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close because both are narrated by multiple characters. This technique enables us to get a clear sense of each character’s individual personality. For example, In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close we don’t know much about Oskar’s grandfather until he begins to narrate parts of the novel. We learn that the reason why he left his wife and never met his son was because he was afraid to love someone again after the death of his first love. Through his writing we are able to see his true personal struggles, similar to when Campbell narrates parts of My Sister’s Keeper.