Extremely Loud 4

Anna Lacy

Trauma in Film and Literature

Yes and No

              In the chapter Alive and Alone Oskar meets the person renting from his grandmother, an elderly man with yes and no tattooed on his palms who only writes what he wants to say in a book. The man is his grandfather even though he does not introduce him as such. The grandfather attempts to come back into Oskar’s life when he needs an adult male figure in his life. His grandfather however does not introduce himself as such because he does not want Oskar to feel awkward around him and treat him as an elder but rather treat him as someone he can confide in and simply talk with. Even though Oskar’s grandfather is still unable to speak verbally he still tells Oskar that if he ever wants to talk he will be there for him and all he has to do is throw rocks at his window.

At the end of the chapter Oskar asks himself, “What about digging up Dad’s empty coffin” (259)? On the next page is a spread of his grandfather’s hands saying yes and no, as if answering Oskar’s questions. Yes you could but No it wouldn't solve any of your questions or the revers is also relevant No you could not but Yes your questions can be solved.