Legend (Legend #1)
Chapter 36: Part Two: June 7
by Marie, Lu,The chapter opens with June preparing for Day’s execution, scheduled for the following evening. Thomas, her colleague, invites her to a movie, *The Glory of the Flag*, which she accepts to maintain his trust while secretly planning to help Day escape. As they step outside, signs of an approaching hurricane unsettle the city, with residents stocking up on supplies and activities being postponed. The atmosphere is tense, mirroring June’s internal conflict as she balances her facade with Thomas and her clandestine mission.
During the movie outing, Thomas hints at his role in monitoring the execution, while June probes for details to refine her escape plan. Their conversation takes a turn when Thomas reveals he visited her apartment the previous night and found her absent. June deflects his questions with a fabricated story about being on the roof, but his suspicion lingers. The exchange highlights the growing tension between them, as June struggles to maintain her cover while Thomas’s curiosity suggests potential distrust or surveillance.
The situation escalates when Thomas announces a surprise: Day’s execution has been moved up to that very evening. June feigns relief, but internally, she panics as the accelerated timeline disrupts her plans. The sudden change raises alarms—Commander Jameson’s decision to withhold this information suggests she may suspect June’s loyalty. June’s mind races, questioning whether Thomas is complicit in testing her or if he, too, is being manipulated. The revelation forces her to reconsider her strategy, as time to act dwindles.
As the movie begins, June retreats into her thoughts, grappling with the urgency of her predicament. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, with June resolved to adapt her plans to save Day, despite the heightened risks. The abrupt schedule change and Commander Jameson’s secrecy underscore the oppressive control of the regime, while June’s determination reflects her moral conviction to protect an innocent life, even at great personal cost.
FAQs
1. How does the narrator’s planned rescue operation for Day become complicated in this chapter?
Answer:
The narrator’s escape plan is severely disrupted when Thomas reveals that Day’s execution has been moved up by a full day—from tomorrow evening to tonight at 1700 hours. This sudden change leaves no time to deliver uniforms to the Patriots or coordinate their infiltration. Additionally, the narrator realizes Commander Jameson intentionally withheld this information, raising suspicions about whether she distrusts the narrator or is testing her loyalty. The compressed timeline makes it nearly impossible to execute the planned rescue, forcing the narrator to reconsider her strategy to save Day.2. Analyze the significance of the hurricane imagery in this chapter. How does it contribute to the mood and foreshadowing?
Answer:
The approaching hurricane serves as both a literal storm and a metaphor for the escalating tension in the plot. The “ominous gale” and uneasy animals mirror the narrator’s internal turmoil as her plans unravel. The storm preparations—sandbags, rationed supplies, and postponed Trials—create a sense of impending chaos, foreshadowing the execution’s accelerated timeline and the narrator’s desperate need to adapt. The violent weather parallels the political storm surrounding Day’s execution, suggesting that disruptive events are inevitable.3. Why does the narrator lie to Thomas about her whereabouts the previous night, and what does this reveal about their relationship?
Answer:
The narrator claims she was on the roof to avoid revealing her secret meeting with Kaede to plan Day’s rescue. Her deception highlights the precariousness of her position: she must maintain Thomas’s trust while working against the Republic. Thomas’s questioning—and her deflection by turning the conversation back on him—demonstrates their mutual suspicion. His casual demeanor (“carefree” despite having “blood on his hands”) contrasts with her calculated responses, underscoring their ideological divide and her isolation in the mission.4. How does the commercial for Day’s execution reflect the Republic’s propaganda tactics?
Answer:
The execution announcement is framed like a festive event, with “dark blue text and photos over a white and green patterned background,” visually sanitizing the brutality of a public killing. The emphasis on “limited space available” and “jumbotron viewing” treats the execution as entertainment, reinforcing the Republic’s manipulation of public perception. By presenting state violence as a spectacle, the regime cultivates fear and obedience while dehumanizing Day, whose photo is center stage—a warning to dissenters.5. Critical Thinking: Evaluate the narrator’s statement, “the boy who didn’t kill my brother will die tonight.” What does this reveal about her moral conflict?
Answer:
This line encapsulates her guilt and urgency. While she once believed Day murdered her brother, she now knows he’s innocent, amplifying her responsibility to save him. The phrase “will die tonight” acknowledges her limited time, while “boy” humanizes Day, contrasting with the Republic’s portrayal of him as a criminal. Her moral conflict stems from loyalty to the state versus justice for an innocent person. The statement also implies self-reproach—if she fails, she becomes complicit in the Republic’s injustice.
Quotes
1. “DAY WILL BE EXECUTED TOMORROW EVENING.”
This stark announcement sets the urgent, high-stakes tone of the chapter, revealing the impending execution that drives the protagonist’s secret plans and inner conflict.
2. “If I’m going to help John escape tonight, I’d better make sure I keep Thomas feeling good about our relationship. No need for him to get suspicious.”
This thought reveals the protagonist’s calculated deception and dual loyalties, showcasing the tension between her outward compliance and secret rebellion against the system.
3. “How anyone with blood on his hands could still look so carefree is beyond me.”
This internal observation highlights the moral dissonance between the protagonist and Thomas, emphasizing her growing awareness of the brutality masked by his pleasant demeanor.
4. “We’re moving up Day’s execution time… Tonight. Isn’t it great? You won’t have to agonize through another whole day.”
This devastating revelation represents the chapter’s major turning point, forcing the protagonist to scramble as her carefully laid plans collapse under the regime’s unpredictability.
5. “Change of plans. Otherwise, the boy who didn’t kill my brother will die tonight.”
The chapter’s closing line powerfully encapsulates the protagonist’s resolve, blending urgency with moral conviction as she commits to saving an innocent life against all odds.