Legend (Legend #1)
Chapter 35: Part Two: Day 7
by Marie, Lu,The chapter opens with the narrator, on the eve of their execution, experiencing fragmented dreams blending familiar and unfamiliar voices. The final dream is a vivid childhood memory set in Lake sector, where the narrator, aged nine, recalls a joyful afternoon playing street hockey with their older brother John while their younger brother Eden tinkers with machinery. The scene is idyllic, filled with laughter and the aroma of a rare chicken dinner their mother prepared by sacrificing personal belongings and working extra shifts. The memory captures a rare moment of familial warmth and John’s uncharacteristically cheerful mood.
The tone shifts when a street policeman interrupts their game after the narrator accidentally hits him with a paper ball. Despite the harmless nature of the incident, the officer reacts violently, striking the narrator with a knife handle and kicking them. John intervenes, pleading and offering their family’s meager savings to appease the officer. The policeman further extorts their cherished chicken dinner, leaving the family humiliated and deprived. The narrator’s mother avoids eye contact, focusing on comforting Eden, while John admonishes the narrator for defiantly staring at the officer, emphasizing the dangers of provoking authority.
John’s protective instincts are highlighted as he scolds the narrator for their recklessness, insisting compliance is necessary for survival. He reveals his deep fear of losing the narrator, stating, “I would rather die than see them hurt you.” The narrator, though physically hurt and emotionally shaken, responds with tearful guilt over the lost meal. The memory ends with John hugging the narrator, a rare display of affection that underscores the bond between them. The dream’s clarity and emotional weight leave the narrator unsettled upon waking.
The chapter concludes with the narrator’s growing dread that John’s words in the dream might foreshadow a tragic reality. The juxtaposition of the cherished memory with the narrator’s impending execution creates a poignant contrast, emphasizing themes of familial love, sacrifice, and the brutality of their world. The dream serves as both a comfort and a haunting reminder of loss, leaving the narrator with an overwhelming sense of foreboding as their execution date approaches.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the narrator’s dream about his childhood with John and Eden?
Answer:
The dream serves as a poignant memory that highlights the narrator’s bond with his brothers and the harsh realities of their upbringing. It contrasts moments of familial joy (playing hockey, celebrating John’s job) with the brutal oppression they face from authorities (the policeman’s violent reaction to an accidental offense). The dream gains deeper significance as the narrator faces execution—it underscores John’s protective nature (“I would rather die than see them hurt you”) and foreshadows potential tragedy. This memory resurfaces as the narrator grapples with fear that John’s words might ironically come true in their current circumstances.2. How does the chapter illustrate the power dynamics between civilians and authorities in this society?
Answer:
The policeman’s actions exemplify systemic abuse of power: he escalates a minor accident (being hit by a paper ball) into a violent confrontation, extorts money and food from the family, and humiliates them without consequence. The family’s response—apologizing, offering bribes, and submitting silently—reveals their vulnerability. John’s warning (“You never fight back. Ever.”) underscores the lethal consequences of resistance. This dynamic reflects a society where authorities enforce control through fear and violence, while civilians survive through compliance, reinforcing themes of oppression and survival at personal cost.3. Analyze the symbolism of the chicken in this chapter.
Answer:
The chicken represents both celebration and loss. It symbolizes the family’s rare joy (purchased through sacrifice—the mother selling possessions and working extra shifts) and their precarious socioeconomic status. Its confiscation by the policeman mirrors how systemic corruption strips marginalized communities of even small comforts. The chicken also highlights inequality: the policeman condemns it as a “luxury” for the family, implying they are undeserving, while he freely takes it. This moment reinforces how authority figures exploit and dehumanize the poor, turning symbols of hope into tools of oppression.4. How does John’s character develop in this flashback, and what does it reveal about his relationship with the narrator?
Answer:
John is portrayed as both protective and pragmatic. He shields the narrator physically and diplomatically (pleading with the policeman, offering money) but later scolds him for defiance, emphasizing survival over pride. His duality—fierce loyalty (“I would rather die than see them hurt you”) and harsh lessons—shows his role as a brother who bears the weight of responsibility in a dangerous world. Their relationship is rooted in love but strained by the need to navigate oppression. The narrator’s tears and John’s reluctant hug reveal vulnerability beneath their hardened exteriors.5. Why might the narrator describe this memory as “painfully clear” upon waking, and how does it connect to his present situation?
Answer:
The memory is “painfully clear” because it embodies unresolved guilt (his actions cost the family dearly) and dread (John’s protective vow now feels like foreshadowing). As the narrator faces execution, he fears John might sacrifice himself to save him, mirroring the past. The dream blurs past and present, emphasizing cyclical trauma—the same oppression that shaped their childhood now threatens their lives. His horror stems from realizing that survival tactics (submission, bargaining) may no longer work, and John’s love could become a tragic liability.
Quotes
1. “I would rather die than see them hurt you.”
This quote encapsulates John’s protective nature toward his younger brother, revealing the deep familial bonds and sacrifices made under oppressive conditions. It foreshadows the narrator’s later fear that this sentiment might tragically come true.
2. “You never look at an officer like that, do you understand? You want to get us all killed?”
John’s urgent warning highlights the brutal reality of living under authoritarian rule, where even a defiant glance can provoke extreme violence. This moment underscores the chapter’s theme of survival under oppression.
3. “The smell of chicken fills the air. It’s not even a hot day today—it’s perfect, in fact. I pause for a second as John runs to fetch the ball again. I try to take a mental snapshot of this day.”
This poignant description of a rare happy family moment makes its subsequent destruction by the policeman even more powerful. It represents the fragility of joy in their harsh world.
4. “Street brats.”
The policeman’s contemptuous remark, followed by his theft of both their money and celebratory meal, perfectly illustrates the systemic abuse and dehumanization faced by the family. This moment serves as a microcosm of their daily struggles.
5. “I’m not a superstitious person, but when I wake up from this dream, this painfully clear memory of John, I have the most horrible feeling in my chest.”
This reflection bridges the dream sequence with present-day dread, emphasizing how past trauma continues to haunt the narrator as he faces execution. It connects memory with impending fate.