Adversity

One of the defining features of the central characters’ story arc is the presence of significant adversity in their recent past, and the narrative examines the similarities and differences in how people respond to such adversity. The first example is the adversity faced by Nathan, the narrator. He begins the novel with the sentence, “I was looking for a quiet place to die” (1). This opening is indicative of Nathan’s sense of defeat and dejection in the face of his recent tribulations. He has undergone a divorce and has been diagnosed with lung cancer (although the cancer is in remission.) These events, coupled with Nathan’s recent retirement, leave Nathan feeling as if his life has reached a woeful conclusion. These adverse events therefore leave him feeling dejected, but the events of the novel eventually stir a new sense of purpose in him as he becomes...