Instead of analyzing my one favorite passage from All the Light We Cannot See, I decided to
choose and analyze 4 different quotes that truly exemplify the novel as a whole. Thanks for
reading!
The four different quotes I chose to analyze all represent unique aspects of the novel All the
Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. These include examples of imagery, the devastation of
war, and meaningful and heartfelt statements. When they combine with each other, they create
this beautifully-written novel.
The first quote states, “When Paris was like a vast kitchen, pyramids of cabbages and
carrots everywhere; bakers’ stalls overflowing with pastries; fish stacked like cordwood
in the fishmongers’ booths, the runnels awash in silver scales, alabaster gulls swooping
down to carry off entrails” (Doerr 352). Many quotes in All the Light We Cannot See are
extremely similar to this in their use of imagery and description, which is one of the
reasons the personal view of the war is important. This allows for all of the senses to be
engaged in a personal manor. Although the novel is not written from a first-person
perspective, the reader is able to discover new things about them from the way they and
their actions are described. This is especially important because of the some of the language
barriers created in the novel, as well as Marie-Laure’s visual impairment.
The second quote states, “To shut your eyes is to guess nothing of blindness. Beneath your
world of skies and faces and buildings exists a rawer and older world, a place where surface
places disintegrate and sounds ribbon in shoals through the air” (Doerr 390). I found this to
be an exceptionally powerful quote. While it may not feel this way for all readers, by the end
of the novel, I had almost forgotten that Marie-Laure was blind. She has a fantastic family,
successful career, and is overall satisfied with her life and accomplishments. Although the fact
that she is blind hinders her during the actual war, she never lets it interfere with her personality,
and it even helps her develop into an even stronger character. She learns how to fight for both
herself and others by relaying secret messages during the war with the help of her great-uncle,
Etienne, which further empowers her.
choose and analyze 4 different quotes that truly exemplify the novel as a whole. Thanks for
reading!
The four different quotes I chose to analyze all represent unique aspects of the novel All the
Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. These include examples of imagery, the devastation of
war, and meaningful and heartfelt statements. When they combine with each other, they create
this beautifully-written novel.
The first quote states, “When Paris was like a vast kitchen, pyramids of cabbages and
carrots everywhere; bakers’ stalls overflowing with pastries; fish stacked like cordwood
in the fishmongers’ booths, the runnels awash in silver scales, alabaster gulls swooping
down to carry off entrails” (Doerr 352). Many quotes in All the Light We Cannot See are
extremely similar to this in their use of imagery and description, which is one of the
reasons the personal view of the war is important. This allows for all of the senses to be
engaged in a personal manor. Although the novel is not written from a first-person
perspective, the reader is able to discover new things about them from the way they and
their actions are described. This is especially important because of the some of the language
barriers created in the novel, as well as Marie-Laure’s visual impairment.
The second quote states, “To shut your eyes is to guess nothing of blindness. Beneath your
world of skies and faces and buildings exists a rawer and older world, a place where surface
places disintegrate and sounds ribbon in shoals through the air” (Doerr 390). I found this to
be an exceptionally powerful quote. While it may not feel this way for all readers, by the end
of the novel, I had almost forgotten that Marie-Laure was blind. She has a fantastic family,
successful career, and is overall satisfied with her life and accomplishments. Although the fact
that she is blind hinders her during the actual war, she never lets it interfere with her personality,
and it even helps her develop into an even stronger character. She learns how to fight for both
herself and others by relaying secret messages during the war with the help of her great-uncle,
Etienne, which further empowers her.
The third quote states, “War, Etienne thinks distantly, is a bazaar where lives are traded like any
other commodity: chocolate or bullets or parachute silk. Has he traded all those numbers for
Marie-Laure’s life?” (Doerr 421) This is said by Marie-Laure’s great-uncle, Entienne. I found it
incredibly powerful, and not just because the sentence is written well. Although Marie-Laure did
not die, Doerr was able to use this quote to ensure that the readers felt the same pain that the
characters did. During this chapter, the reader is unaware whether or not Marie-Laure is alive,
which allows the reader to learn about any new events as they occur. Personally, I related to
Entienne because of this, and he became a much more likable character. I also found it interesting
that Doerr made one of the most emotionally vulnerable lines in the novel to be spoken by
Entienne, one of the oldest characters. As opposed to Marie-Laure and Werner, who are teenagers,
this reveals and emotional side to Entienne and furthers my understanding into him as a person.
other commodity: chocolate or bullets or parachute silk. Has he traded all those numbers for
Marie-Laure’s life?” (Doerr 421) This is said by Marie-Laure’s great-uncle, Entienne. I found it
incredibly powerful, and not just because the sentence is written well. Although Marie-Laure did
not die, Doerr was able to use this quote to ensure that the readers felt the same pain that the
characters did. During this chapter, the reader is unaware whether or not Marie-Laure is alive,
which allows the reader to learn about any new events as they occur. Personally, I related to
Entienne because of this, and he became a much more likable character. I also found it interesting
that Doerr made one of the most emotionally vulnerable lines in the novel to be spoken by
Entienne, one of the oldest characters. As opposed to Marie-Laure and Werner, who are teenagers,
this reveals and emotional side to Entienne and furthers my understanding into him as a person.
Lastly, Doerr states, “And not all that far from Jutta, the fuhrer raises a glass of warm (but never
boiled) milk to his lips, a slice of Oldenburg black bread on his place and a whole apple beside it,
his daily breakfast; while in a ravine outside Kiev, two inmates rub their hands in sand because
they have become slippery, and then they take up the stretcher again” (Doerr 467). The rest of the
passage goes on to explain the atrocities of the war, and then comparing them yet again to German
war officials of a significant rank, and all the luxuries that accompany that rank. While All the
Light We Cannot See was incredibly beautiful, it was also filled with a large amount of tragedy.
Doerr pushes boundaries by describing mostly cruel things, rather than light-hearted descriptions
of happier events. Therefore, this comparison of class is another aspect of my favorite parts of the
novel.
boiled) milk to his lips, a slice of Oldenburg black bread on his place and a whole apple beside it,
his daily breakfast; while in a ravine outside Kiev, two inmates rub their hands in sand because
they have become slippery, and then they take up the stretcher again” (Doerr 467). The rest of the
passage goes on to explain the atrocities of the war, and then comparing them yet again to German
war officials of a significant rank, and all the luxuries that accompany that rank. While All the
Light We Cannot See was incredibly beautiful, it was also filled with a large amount of tragedy.
Doerr pushes boundaries by describing mostly cruel things, rather than light-hearted descriptions
of happier events. Therefore, this comparison of class is another aspect of my favorite parts of the
novel.
In All the Light We Cannot See, each one of these quotes represents an important part of the novel that makes it combine together into a winner of the Pulitzer Prize. As I previously mentioned, I was unable to choose one specific quote, making this combination what truly represents my favorite aspects of the novel.
Well written! The analysis of the passages gave good insight to how Marie-Laure is almost able to overcome her blindness because she does not let that get into the way of her development as a character. The excerpts you chose embodied the message that war can be damaging yet, it is up to the individual to determine their fate. The contrast that you describe between the apparent beauty and horror of war interesting as it gave your analysis a neat sense of duality. Good work out of you Kate!
ReplyDeleteI really like the third quote that you chose to analyze. I have never heard someone describe war as a sort of bargaining, using men as currency the same way one would trade for chocolate or string. Very powerful. The main character sounds very unique, being blind. She is still able to overcome her disabilities, and even live happily with them, which tells the reader to be more appreciative of their own life. I like how you chose individual quotes rather than a passage. I didn't understand what you were trying to say until I read all of the paragraphs. Then I drew together conclusions based on the multiple quotes/perspectives. Well done. Bravo.
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