Creative Response B

Q: Why Does Melanie and Sean listen to Dr. Brinsley-Schneider lecture about human life?
A (T.C. Boyle): Sean is a doctor and Mel is with him. He is interested in what Dr. Schneider has to say about human life. Dr. Schneider talks about how humans are no where close to extinct and that the world is survival of the fittest. Anyone who is under par with everyone else disserves to not make it in the end.
Q: Why are Sean and Melanie not married even though Sean says he wants his Ph. D first?
A: Sean and Melanie are just close friends for now and as the story goes on the trust between the two of them isn’t good enough to be married yet. This and Sean will have his Ph. D in six months and he doesn’t want many interferences.
Q: Why doesn’t Mel tell Sean she is pregnant?
A: She tries her best to tell him. She is afraid that Sean might leave his because they are not married yet and Sean doesn’t want more to deal with in his life. Mel tries to tell him during the entire story but never gets a good time.
Q: Why is there a train killer in the book?
A: The killer is there to make the story more exciting. It brings in a source of worry and conflict in the story. Eventually a man brakes into the apartment building and because they live by a train they think it is him.
Q: Why is the gun Sean owns significant?
A: Sean thinks of the gun as protection and if needed, he will use it on the train killer of anyone else who comes close. Mel thinks of the gun as an insecurity in her life. This comes out then Sean is fighting someone who they think is the train robber. Sean drops the gun and tells Mel to use it, she hesitates and then doesn’t. She is afraid of what could happen from using it.