Legend (Legend #1)
Chapter 3: Part One: Day 2
by Marie, Lu,The chapter opens with a flashback to the narrator’s childhood, revealing a traumatic incident where his father was brutally beaten by police during a routine inspection. At seven years old, the narrator retaliated by setting fire to the police headquarters using a gasoline-coated ice ball launched from a slingshot, an act that went unpunished. This early defiance hints at his rebellious nature and sets the stage for his later actions. The narrator reflects on his mother’s hopes for his success, contrasting them with his current notoriety, suggesting a life far removed from her aspirations.
The scene shifts to the present, where the narrator, disguised and bloodied, lurks near Los Angeles Central Hospital. His meticulous preparation—black-dyed hair, pig’s blood, and hidden knives—underscores his determination to infiltrate the heavily guarded building. His target is the windowless third-floor laboratory, a place he knows from a past visit tied to his failed “Trial,” a mysterious event that nearly cost him his life. The hospital’s luxury and military presence highlight the stark divide between the elite and the impoverished, a recurring theme in the narrator’s world.
As he observes the hospital’s security, the narrator notes the arrival of Captain Metias, a commanding officer overseeing the perimeter. The narrator’s plan hinges on blending in as an injured patient, and he successfully manipulates the hospital staff by feigning distress. Despite being searched, his hidden knives go undetected, allowing him to gain entry. His internal monologue reveals resentment toward the privileged, who receive preferential treatment, further emphasizing the societal inequality that fuels his defiance.
Inside the hospital, the narrator navigates the sterile, overcrowded waiting room, noting the soldiers’ positions and biding his time. After a calculated wait, he stages a stumble to distract the guards, using his feigned injury to secure directions to the restroom. His performance is convincing, and the soldiers’ disdain for him works in his favor. The chapter ends with the narrator poised to advance his mission, his sharp observations and strategic thinking underscoring his resourcefulness in a hostile environment.
FAQs
1. What incident from the narrator’s childhood reveals their early propensity for rebellion and strategic thinking?
Answer:
When the narrator was seven, their father was brutally beaten by police after a routine inspection. In retaliation, the narrator crafted a weapon by coating an ice ball with gasoline, lit it on fire, and launched it through the police headquarters’ window using a slingshot. This act of arson destroyed the building’s west wing, and the narrator was never caught, calling it their “first perfect crime.” This incident demonstrates their early defiance of authority, resourcefulness (using household items as weapons), and understanding of destroying evidence to avoid consequences.2. How does the narrator prepare for their infiltration of the hospital, and what does this reveal about their character?
Answer:
The narrator meticulously plans their disguise: dyeing their hair black, smearing pig’s blood and mud on their body, and wearing boots with hidden knives. They also observe hospital routines and soldier patrols before acting. These preparations highlight their strategic mindset, patience, and adaptability. The choice to work alone (despite wanting Tess’s company) shows their calculated risk assessment—prioritizing mission success over comfort. Their attention to detail (e.g., noting the third-floor lab’s layout from prior experience) underscores their methodical and observant nature.3. Analyze the significance of the narrator’s interaction with the nurse and soldiers at the hospital entrance. What social commentary does this scene imply?
Answer:
The nurse and soldiers treat the narrator with disdain, confiscating their money and barely acknowledging their “injuries.” The narrator sarcastically notes that wealthy individuals would receive free, prompt care—unlike the poor, who must pay and wait. This highlights the society’s stark class divide and systemic oppression. The soldiers’ aggression (threatening to “fill [them] with bullets”) further emphasizes the state’s brutality toward the lower class. The scene critiques how power structures exploit and dehumanize marginalized groups, a theme reinforced by the narrator’s father’s earlier abuse by authorities.4. What does the narrator’s encounter with Captain Metias suggest about potential future conflicts in the story?
Answer:
Metias, a sharp-eyed officer, studies the narrator suspiciously despite their disguise. His prominent role (commanding soldiers and overseeing hospital security) positions him as a formidable antagonist. The narrator’s mental note of his face implies future confrontations, especially since Metias’s presence suggests heightened security around the lab—a place tied to the narrator’s past (their failed Trial). This foreshadows a cat-and-mouse dynamic, with Metias representing the oppressive Republic’s reach and the narrator’s rebellion against it.5. How does the chapter establish the narrator’s voice and worldview? Provide textual evidence.
Answer:
The narrator’s voice blends dark humor (“I’m famous all right, but not how Mom imagined”), bitterness (“Of course they took my Notes”), and resilience (planning despite trauma). Their worldview is cynical, shaped by systemic injustice—from their father’s abuse to the hospital’s inequities. Phrases like “goddy rich sector boy” reveal contempt for elitism, while their recollection of the “perfect crime” shows pride in outsmarting oppressors. The juxtaposition of childhood vengeance (“fire trucks whizzing”) with present-day peril (infiltrating the lab) underscores their lifelong defiance of authority.
Quotes
1. “I had committed my first perfect crime.”
This quote marks a pivotal moment in the protagonist’s backstory, revealing the origin of their rebellious nature and criminal tendencies. It shows how childhood trauma (their father’s brutalization by police) shaped their identity and set them on a path of calculated defiance against authority.
2. “I’m famous all right, but I don’t think it’s what she had in mind.”
This ironic reflection contrasts the mother’s hopes for her child’s success with the reality of their notorious reputation. It encapsulates the theme of failed expectations and introduces the protagonist’s self-awareness about their controversial role in society.
3. “Electric lights shine from each floor–a luxury only government buildings and the elite’s homes can afford.”
This observation highlights the stark class divide in this dystopian world, establishing the socioeconomic context that motivates the protagonist’s actions. The description of privilege versus poverty underscores the injustice driving their criminal behavior.
4. “I was there the day I failed my Trial, the day I was supposed to die.”
This ominous statement reveals a critical piece of backstory about the protagonist’s relationship with the hospital and hints at a larger societal system (the “Trial”) that determines life or death. It builds mystery while establishing personal stakes for the infiltration mission.
5. “If I was a goddy rich sector boy, I’d be admitted without charge.”
This bitter observation crystallizes the protagonist’s awareness of systemic inequality in healthcare access. The use of slang (“goddy”) adds authenticity to their voice while emphasizing their resentment toward the privileged class.