Explication

Explication of the loss of loved ones, in "The Last of the Crazy People" by Timothy Findley. Along with the loss of a loved one, two other dramatic situations that suited this novel were crime pursued by vengeance and vengeance taken for kin upon kin. I felt the most predominant of Polti's thirty-six dramatic situations was the loss of a loved one because this incident occurred the most. All were equally important and significant to the development of this novel, however this one in particular had many different aspects.

The initial thought when I think of the loss of loved one, means the death of a very close person in your life, such as a family member or very close friend. This novel used this dramatic situation in its ideal sense, also in a sort of twisted way. The loss of a loved one can mean much more then the physical aspect (death of a close human in your life) but also losing the connection and love you share with someone, losing something or someone who isn’t human, and losing something you never had but always wanted.

Through out “The Last of the Crazy People” Hooker’s mother, Jessica, was not an active character. She isolated herself from her family almost completely, including her innocent son Hooker. Jessica felt that it was best because “she knew she could not bear not to be known to [Hooker]. It was best that she thought of him as dead” (281). Once having a mother who showed you plenty of affection then she wanted to think of you as dead is very confusing. This is the first loss of love Hooker experienced. The woman who brought him into this world and is part of who he is, loved him so much was forced to make a difficult decision. Jessica could not bare the thought of losing her son, so if she thought of him as dead, it would ease her own confusion and pain. This was a loss of a loved one for Jessica but she was old enough to understand the situation. Hooker was still a young boy who did not understand why his mother acted like she wanted nothing to do with him. They both experienced losing their love for each other which destroyed them in the end.

Hooker’s beloved Clementine was one that he loved and lost. Hooker lost not only his cat but her unborn miracles that were ready to enter the world in a matter of days. Hooker grieved the death of Clementine as he “rocked her, just for a moment, and held her close against his skin… ‘Good little girl’… He thought of her kittens. He did not even know how many there would have been” (164). Even though Clementine was a pet, it was still an item Hooker cherished and adored. She did not need to be a human to be loved by Hooker; he could still grieve over the loss of her. Hooker’s cats were the only friends he had, and this close friend was one he loved very much, resulting in an example of the loss of a loved one.

Not only having an absent mother, his father showed little to no interest in his son. Hooker wanted his dad to give him answers, or just feed him some sort of information he could trust Hooker with about the family. His father was too caught up in his work and small club/hall business; along with the stress of his wife who wanted nothing to do with the family or her husband. His father didn’t have the energy to be a father, and he really didn’t know how to be a father. He was caught up in the stress of his wife and never bothered sharing how he felt about the family. Hooker discovered this while they were talking and his father said to him “‘when you grow up, and you have a child of your own’… ‘When you realize the things you have to face – when you see your children growing away from life, when nothing you say means anything to anyone anymore, and you are crying out “help” or “beware” or “caution,” and no one pays attention then… then… then, it will be different, Hooker’”(268). Hooker’s father had a hard time dealing with losing a love one, his wife, to her illness, and Hooker lost his father to his grief.

Most difficult of all was that Hooker lost his previous older brother to an act of suicide. Findley wrote, “the Jaguar sat on its taillights, propped up against an oak tree, two thirds of the distance to the road. Gilbert, on fire… his arms spread out in a hopeless gesture, his head to one side” (230). This was the most devastating event for Hooker because any small bit of encouragement and acceptance came from Gilbert. Gilbert also explained some things to Hooker no one else would, with the exception of the dysfunctional scene with their mother. Hooker continued to seek answers and when he didn’t get them he asked Gilbert “‘What is it I’ll need to know,’ [Hooker] said, ‘that everyone keeps talking about?’ … Gil looked .. at him. ‘Much there is that surpasses understanding, kid’ [Gilbert] said” (201). Gilbert had a very tough time dealing with the loss of a loved one, his mother and her ‘illness’. Hooker once again experienced the loss of a loved one, but in a much more horrifying way; a way that could never be fixed and renewed.

This expanded my understanding of the loss of a loved one, and how we lose people more often then we realize. We can lose them slowly or dramatically, and sometimes we cannot change the outcome. It is important we try to make the best of what we have and not be afraid to show affection and love towards anything/anyone that you treasure.