The Fire

 Chapter 14 opens in a very dramatic and fast paced manner with intruders and a fire. However, I think this fire was predicted by Lauren as there are many subtle clues that build up to this event. We also have intruders destroying the neighborhood gate which I think is symbolic of the safety and the community of the town being destroyed. Lauren also predicts this as she tells Joanne of the neighborhood gate being destroyed. I think that because Lauren was able to see these events ahead of time, she was able to react faster than most and make her way out of the chaos. Although this destruction and death is terrible, I think the physical demolition of this place called "home" for Lauren is just another tether holding her back that is cut. Although Lauren will find life outside her pampered world difficult at first, in the end, I think it will be freeing. What do you all think? What impact will this fire have on Lauren?

Comments

  1. IsabelaApril 30, 2021 at 7:21 AM

    I think it was very traumatizing for her, and rather than see the future, she sort of explains how she didn't know persay it would happen, but she knew extreme inequality like where she was living couldn't last too long.

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  2. L. MoffittApril 30, 2021 at 7:22 AM

    Good point -- I do think it is freeing for her, though it is a terrible sort of thing to set you free. But she talks about the Phoenix rising from the ashes, so it's fitting. Plus her hyper-empathy means that pain is probably always going to be part of her life.

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  3. Anna ParkApril 30, 2021 at 7:45 AM

    Lauren may have not seen the future, but she was definitely prepared. Maybe it's her lack of trust of the neighborhood, but she always seems like she was on her toes ready for anything, whether it meant leaving her family to go on her own.

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