If These Wings Could Fly
Chapter Seventy-Five
by McCauley, KyrieIn Chapter Seventy-Five, the narrative unfolds with a tense and urgent scene where the characters are abruptly set down on the opposite side of the road from a burning house. Campbell immediately dashes toward the fire, prompting a desperate reaction from Mom, who tries to stop her but fails. The narrator reveals a complex emotional conflict, admitting a harsh willingness to let Campbell burn, contrasting sharply with Campbell’s unyielding determination to save someone trapped inside. This moment highlights the intense personal dynamics and the gravity of the situation as the fire rages on.
The narrator follows Campbell into the smoke-filled house, discovering an unconscious person lying on the floor. Campbell struggles to pull the heavy figure toward the exit, all while choking on the thick smoke. Despite the danger, Campbell refuses to leave, driven by a powerful sense of duty and compassion. The narrator, overwhelmed by the suffocating environment, urges Campbell to abandon the rescue, but ultimately joins in pulling the unconscious individual out, demonstrating the shared resolve among the characters amid the life-threatening crisis.
Upon reaching safety, the group—now including Mom and Juniper—works together to drag the rescued person across the street, away from the collapsing structure. The tension escalates as the house begins to shudder and collapse behind them. The vivid description of the house folding in on itself underscores the destructive power of the fire and the narrow escape from disaster. This moment solidifies the chapter’s themes of survival, sacrifice, and the fragile boundary between life and death.
The chapter concludes with the house’s collapse, a dramatic and final event that symbolizes the end of a perilous ordeal. The intense emotions, physical danger, and quick decisions made by the characters emphasize their resilience and interconnectedness. Through this harrowing episode, the narrative explores themes of guilt, courage, and redemption, leaving readers with a profound sense of the stakes involved and the strength required to confront such dire circumstances.
FAQs
1. What sequence of events leads to the house collapsing in Chapter Seventy-Five?
Answer:
The chapter describes a tense and dramatic sequence where Campbell runs toward the burning house, and Mom tries to stop her but fails. Campbell attempts to rescue an unconscious person inside the house. The narrator joins Campbell, and together they pull the unconscious individual toward the door amidst thick smoke and flickering flames. After managing to roll the person out into the yard with the help of Mom and Juniper, they hear a crunching sound indicating structural failure. The house shudders twice and then collapses. This sequence highlights the urgency and danger of the rescue amid the fire that ultimately destroys the house.2. How does the narrator’s internal conflict about the fire contribute to the emotional tone of the chapter?
Answer:
The narrator expresses a complex internal conflict, wishing they had started the fire so they could bear the guilt instead of Campbell. This reveals deep feelings of resentment or detachment toward Campbell and a struggle with empathy. The narrator admits that they think they would have let Campbell burn, contrasting with Campbell’s selfless actions to save the unconscious person. This internal conflict intensifies the emotional tone by adding layers of guilt, regret, and tension, making the rescue not only a physical struggle but an emotional one as well.3. What role do the other characters (Mom and Juniper) play during the rescue scene, and what does this suggest about their relationships?
Answer:
Mom initially tries to stop Campbell from running into the burning house but later actively helps pull the unconscious person to safety alongside Juniper and the narrator. This shift from resistance to cooperation suggests a complex family dynamic where fear and protection coexist with urgency and solidarity during crisis. Mom’s initial attempt to restrain Campbell indicates concern for her safety, while her later involvement in the rescue shows a willingness to act decisively when the situation demands it. Juniper’s presence as a helper further emphasizes a collective effort among the characters.4. Analyze the symbolism of the house collapsing after the rescue. What might this represent in the context of the chapter?
Answer:
The collapse of the house immediately after the rescue symbolizes the destruction of a physical and possibly emotional foundation. Houses often represent safety, stability, and home, so its destruction may mirror the breakdown of relationships, trust, or past security for the characters. The timing—just after saving the unconscious person—could signify a turning point or loss that forces the characters to confront new realities. The imagery of the house folding in on itself might also reflect internal turmoil or the consequences of past actions (such as the fire’s origin), underscoring themes of loss and transformation.5. If you were in the narrator’s position, how might you have reacted differently during the rescue, and what factors could influence such a decision?
Answer:
If placed in the narrator’s position, reactions might vary depending on personal values, emotional ties, and risk tolerance. The narrator admits to feelings of detachment and even a wish to let Campbell burn, indicating complex emotions. However, one might feel compelled to act more decisively to save a life despite personal conflicts, motivated by empathy or moral responsibility. Factors influencing the decision could include the strength of relationships, fear of loss, sense of duty, and physical capability to assist. The narrator’s struggle highlights how individual perspectives shape responses to emergencies, and reflecting on this can deepen understanding of human behavior in crises.
Quotes
1. “Mom screams, reaching, her fingers barely catching at Campbell’s shirt, but it’s not enough. Campbell pulls free. And I realize she’s going after him, in the burning house. She’s going to save him from the fire she set, and I wish more than anything that I’d started that fire so the guilt would be mine, because I think I’d let him burn. I know I would.”
This quote captures a pivotal emotional moment revealing complex feelings of guilt, protection, and sacrifice. It highlights the narrator’s inner conflict contrasted with Campbell’s determined compassion, setting the tone for the chapter’s tension and themes of responsibility and redemption.
2. “The crows don’t guard the door anymore, and when I get inside, I see why—he’s unconscious on the floor. Campbell is straining to pull his heavy weight toward the door.”
This passage marks a key turning point where danger becomes immediate and tangible. The imagery of the absent crows symbolizes a shift in threat, and Campbell’s physical effort underscores the urgency and desperation of the rescue.
3. “My lungs are on fire, choking on the black smoke filling the room.”
This succinct, visceral description conveys the physical peril and claustrophobic intensity of the scene. It immerses the reader in the protagonist’s struggle, emphasizing the life-threatening stakes and the sensory experience of the fire.
4. “We hear a crunching sound. At first, I think I feel it underneath me, like the whole world is about to split open, but it’s really the house, folding in upon itself. It holds for a heartbeat. Two. Shudders. And then it collapses.”
This powerful closing image encapsulates the destruction and finality of the event. The metaphor of the world splitting open elevates the moment beyond physical collapse to emotional and symbolic ruin, providing a dramatic conclusion to the chapter’s crisis.