Legend (Legend #1)
Chapter 22: Part One: June 11
by Marie, Lu,The chapter opens with a chaotic scene where Thomas shoots a woman unexpectedly, shocking the narrator, June, who believed the mission was only about arrests. As the boy, later identified as Day, leaps from a rooftop in defiance, June is horrified by the violence, contrasting with Thomas’s cold detachment. Commander Jameson orders Day’s capture, leading to a brutal struggle where Day is eventually subdued after being shot in the leg. The scene underscores the brutality of the operation and June’s internal conflict as she grapples with the unplanned bloodshed.
Commander Jameson’s ruthless tactics become evident as she dismisses June’s objections, emphasizing efficiency over negotiation. June’s protest is met with scorn, highlighting the authoritarian nature of their mission. Day and another young man, likely his relative, are forcibly taken away, while June struggles with the moral weight of the actions. Thomas praises her for the successful capture, but June is haunted by the woman’s death, unable to reconcile the violence with her own sense of justice.
The aftermath leaves June emotionally torn. She observes the indifference toward the dead woman and the preferential treatment given to wounded soldiers, deepening her unease. Despite her initial desire for vengeance—fueled by the belief that Day killed her brother, Metias—she feels no satisfaction. The sight of the bloodshed sickens her, and her repeated mantra about Day’s guilt rings hollow, hinting at her growing doubts about the mission’s righteousness.
In the end, June mechanically agrees with Thomas’s congratulations, but her voice betrays her detachment. The chapter closes with her unresolved turmoil, as the violence she witnessed clashes with her loyalty to the regime. The empty repetition of “Day killed Metias” underscores her fractured conviction, leaving her questioning the cost of her actions and the truth behind her brother’s death.
FAQs
1. How does June react to the violence during the operation, and what does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
June experiences significant distress and moral conflict during the operation, particularly when Thomas shoots a woman unexpectedly and when Commander Jameson wounds Day. She freezes, feels horror, and questions Jameson’s orders—contrasting with Thomas’s blind obedience. Her internal monologue (“This is all wrong”) and physical reactions (clenching hands, feeling sick at the blood) reveal her empathy and moral compass. However, her attempt to rationalize the violence (“Day killed Metias”) shows her struggle between duty and personal ethics. This complexity suggests June is more principled than her superiors but still vulnerable to manipulation by the system she serves.2. Analyze Commander Jameson’s leadership style based on her actions in this chapter. How does it impact the mission’s outcome?
Answer:
Commander Jameson demonstrates an authoritarian, results-driven leadership style. She disregards June’s objections (“This isn’t college”), prioritizes efficiency over negotiation (“See how much faster that was?”), and uses violence as a tool (shooting Day’s leg). Her approach achieves the immediate goal of capturing Day but at ethical costs: collateral death, June’s disillusionment, and likely fueling resentment among civilians (evidenced by onlookers’ fearful reactions). Her dismissal of protocol (“we didn’t discuss killing civilians”) reveals a willingness to operate outside agreed-upon rules, which may undermine trust within her team long-term.3. What conflicting emotions does June experience after the operation, and how does the author convey this internal struggle?
Answer:
June grapples with guilt (focusing on the abandoned body), anger at Thomas’s compliance, and a forced attempt at justification (“Day killed Metias”). The author uses visceral imagery (the pool of blood making her sick), repetitive mantras (the hollow echo of “Day killed Metias”), and dissociation (“My voice sounds like a stranger’s”) to portray her turmoil. Notably, she expects to feel vengeful joy but instead feels emptiness, highlighting the gap between her conditioning and authentic moral instincts. This conflict foreshadows potential future resistance to the regime’s brutality.4. Compare Thomas’s and June’s responses to the operation. What does this contrast suggest about their roles in the story?
Answer:
Thomas remains expressionless after shooting a civilian and later congratulates June enthusiastically, embodying blind loyalty to authority. June, however, questions orders and exhibits physical distress. This contrast positions Thomas as a symbol of the regime’s indoctrination, while June’s moral hesitation marks her as a potential catalyst for change. Their dynamic also reflects thematic tensions between obedience and individualism—Thomas’s approval-seeking smile contrasts with June’s inability to even look at him, suggesting divergent paths in their ideological alignment.5. How does the chapter use the bystanders’ reactions to comment on the broader societal context?
Answer:
The timid gazes and quick aversion of bystanders witnessing the violence (“Some… turn away, while others keep a timid gaze”) illustrate a climate of fear and oppression. The contrast between the medics attending wounded soldiers and the abandoned civilian body underscores institutional prioritization of military lives over civilians. This silent observation by residents—without intervention—mirrors June’s internal conflict, collectively painting a society where dissent is suppressed but resentment simmers beneath the surface, setting the stage for larger rebellion.
Quotes
1. “This is all wrong. No one’s supposed to get hurt. Commander Jameson did not tell me that she intended to kill anyone from the house—we were supposed to take them all back to Batalla Hall for arrest and questioning.”
This quote captures June’s immediate shock and moral conflict when the operation escalates to violence, highlighting the betrayal of her expectations and the ethical divide between her and her superiors.
2. “I’m not going to wait for him to kill off my soldiers,” she snaps back at me. Then she aims at Day’s left leg and fires.”
Commander Jameson’s ruthless pragmatism is laid bare here, demonstrating the authoritarian mindset that prioritizes control over negotiation or mercy, even against a wounded opponent.
3. “Remember, I tell myself, Day killed Metias. Day killed Metias, Day killed Metias. The words echo empty and uncertain in my mind.”
This internal monologue reveals June’s crumbling justification for the violence, as her rehearsed mantra fails to suppress her growing doubt and horror at the situation.
4. “Oh, Iparis,” she replies. “We’d be here all night if we kept negotiating. See how much faster that was? Much more persuasive to our target.”
Commander Jameson’s chilling justification for extrajudicial violence encapsulates the regime’s operational philosophy: efficiency through brutality, with no regard for due process or human life.
5. “Yeah,” I say to Thomas. My voice sounds like a stranger’s. “I think I really did it.”
June’s hollow victory declaration underscores her psychological dissociation, marking a pivotal moment where she begins confronting the moral cost of her actions.