In the novel Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close, Oskar often uses "heavy boots" as a metaphor for his depression. When he knows he is heading into a potentially upsetting or disappointing experience, he often says that his "boots feel heavier". However, I noticed that as he matures (towards the end), he stops using this phrase to convey his feelings. I think that his quest to find the key is what causes this change. This "mission" is the way that Oskar deals with his grief and mourns the loss of his father and I think that it is what helps him get over some of his depression. On page 52, Oskar says, "Every time I left the apartment to go searching for the lock, I became a little lighter, because I was getting closer to Dad." I thought that the change in Oskar's depression was significant because it shows how he is recovering from his loss. After reading this, I decided to write a poem from Oskar's point of view to how he feels when he's wearing his "heavy boots:
Heavy Boots
by Macy Wade
Each day the weight increases,
Their mass grows more and more,
The growing never seems to cease,
Just walking with them has become a chore,
It feels like I’m moving through quicksand,
And I’m slowly sinking down,
Like I’ve lost grasp of someone’s hand,
And I’m just now starting to drown,
My boots keep me from moving forward,
I’m stuck in the same place,
But I now have a goal to work toward,
And I have to walk at a certain pace,
I’ve got to step out of my heavy boots,
Stop being mad and sad,
My mission may seem like an impossible pursuit,
But it’s my only way of ever finding Dad.
Heavy Boots
by Macy Wade
Each day the weight increases,
Their mass grows more and more,
The growing never seems to cease,
Just walking with them has become a chore,
It feels like I’m moving through quicksand,
And I’m slowly sinking down,
Like I’ve lost grasp of someone’s hand,
And I’m just now starting to drown,
My boots keep me from moving forward,
I’m stuck in the same place,
But I now have a goal to work toward,
And I have to walk at a certain pace,
I’ve got to step out of my heavy boots,
Stop being mad and sad,
My mission may seem like an impossible pursuit,
But it’s my only way of ever finding Dad.