The Power of Love

The Power of Love

There is no doubt that the novel “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer focuses on the unique characteristics of Oskar and his exclusive relationships he shares and develops with his family. Oskar’s profound relationship and the keen similarities shown particularly within the relationship he shares with his grandmother become evident throughout this novel. Their need to feel loved, important and desired are feelings in which both Oskar and his grandmother face. Not only do they share similar feelings and thoughts their personal actions, habits and tendencies when dealing with certain situations contain similarities as well. As the novel develops so does the strength of love the grandmother has towards Oskar. Their similarities and mutual understanding for one another allows their bond to become the most compelling relationship experiences within this novel.

The necessity and importance of love is an influential theme experienced by Oskar and his grandmother’s relationship. Both individuals have encountered loss and have been faced with the feeling that they are either not loved or being a burden to someone that they do love. This feeling is true to Oskar when evaluating his relationship with his mother. Oskar is aware at times he makes his mother angry and upset and he commonly follows her negative reactions by asking the question if she still loves him. “I’m not mad at you,” she said, “not even a little?” “No.” “Do you still love me?”…”I’ve never loved you more.” (Foer 7). This conversation between Oskar and his mother on their way to him father’s funeral expresses Oskar’s need to be verbally reassured he is loved. Oskar’s grandmother shares this same desire to feel loved as well. “She wants to know I love her… not love itself but the knowledge that love is there” (Foer 130). This quote from the grandfather referring to the grandmother addresses the fact that she needs to feel loved by him and wants that love, or the...