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The Lovely Bones Character Analysis Essay

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Alice Sebold, the author of The Lovely Bones, paints a dark, mysterious picture at the beginning of the novel and emits a suspenseful mood. Susie Salmon, the protagonist, is a young teenager who gets tragically raped and murdered. She looks down from heaven where she is the only one who truly knows her killer. The murder of Susie Salmon becomes an interruption and disturbance to those that were linked to Susie in a way that the mystery of her murder drives them to the edge. The irony of Susie’s feelings of her “perfect world” is that she grows lonely in a place where all her wishes or desires become a reality. Even though Susie is gone and alone in heaven watching the life she used to know, she has a lasting impact on the lives of her friends and family …show more content…

“When people looked at Lindsey, even my father and mother, they saw me,” (59). Susie explains that her death was a known occurrence to almost everyone and her family was now known as the family of a girl that was murdered. Jack Salmon, Susie’s father, spends all his time searching for Susie’s killer and for justice. “Bastard, you murderous bastard,” (137). Jack expresses his hatred for the man who he believes killed his daughter; Mr. Harvey. His incessant scavenges for the truth eventually ruins his marriage, but not the lasting relationship with his children that he will have and hold until he dies. Ray and Ruth, who were friends of Susie, began to grow a strong relationship after Susie’s death. These two mourn Susie and talk about her often in the cornfield and cut class together. “It became a ritual for the two of them,” (81). Ray and Ruth went to the cornfield to just talk. They would talk about everything but most of all they would talk about Susie. The affect Susie has even brought Ruth to show feelings for Ray even though Ruth believes she is a lesbian. Susie’s death has impacted many people and all she can do is

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