Posted by Brianna Lumsden on June 04, 1999 at 16:17:10:
In Reply to: writing prompt# 19 posted by Amanda Le on June 03, 1999 at 23:45:19:
Amanda mentions that the "black" horse that Jeff choose to ride on may symbolize death or his illness. I believe this to be true since Jeff is so ill and that he is fighting a battle to get better. He is receiving many treatments to try and make himself better. Amanda mentions that Jeff is suffering from the disease but, Tova is suffering too because her son is dying, and she has to watch him deteriorate right before her eyes. I agree with Amanda but, I also feel that Jeff is suffering with the thought that he may die also. It must be a terrible feeling to know that you could die. I think, as Amanda did also, that Tova is in denial about her son Jeff and his illness. When the women by the carousel asks her why her son has all those scars on his face she lies and says she knocked over boiling water onto him. Along with Tova's denial, I feel she is trying to protect her son from having too much pity put onto him because he is ill. Maybe Tova wants her son to try and live like a normal boy would even though he is sick. Tova obviously loves him and cares for him because after she lied to the women, she went to go stand by her son while he was on the ride.